NEW YORK — The name Kaleb Ort might not ring any bells for most Yankees fans. But the right-handed reliever has a history with this organization that predates his time with the Red Sox and Astros.
The Yankees claimed Ort off waivers from Houston on Friday. It marks his return to an organization that first signed him back in 2017. Seven years later, the 33-year-old is back in pinstripes.
This is not a blockbuster move. But for a team that lost Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to the Mets in free agency, every arm matters. Ort will compete for a bullpen spot in spring training.
Undrafted kid from Michigan who once called Yankees home
Kaleb James Ort grew up in Lowell, Michigan. He played college baseball at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. No MLB team selected him in any draft.
His professional career began in independent ball. Ort signed with the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League in October 2015. He posted a 6.05 ERA in his first season as a pro.
The Arizona Diamondbacks gave him a shot in September 2016. They released him six months later without a single appearance. Ort went back to Joliet and threw two scoreless innings before the Yankees came calling.
On May 16, 2017, Ort signed a minor league contract with New York. He spent parts of three seasons in the Yankees farm system. His numbers were impressive.
Ort dominated in Yankees minor league system
The numbers from 2017 to 2019 tell a story of a pitcher finding his way. That first year with the Yankees, Ort split time between the rookie-level Pulaski Yankees and Low-A Staten Island. He went 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA. He struck out 39 batters in 26 innings and saved 10 games.
In 2018, Ort climbed to High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. He made 35 appearances and posted a combined 3.74 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 55.1 innings.
His final season in the Yankees system came in 2019. Ort pitched at three levels, reaching Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He finished with a 6-0 record, 3.40 ERA, 78 strikeouts and four saves in 50.1 innings. The reliever was ready for the big leagues.
Then the pandemic hit. The 2020 minor league season was canceled. Ort sat on the sidelines while other organizations evaluated their rosters.
Red Sox plucked him from Yankees in Rule 5 draft
On December 10, 2020, the Boston Red Sox selected Ort in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. The Yankees lost him to their biggest rival without receiving anything in return.
Ort made his MLB debut with Boston on September 13, 2021. He pitched one-third of an inning against the Seattle Mariners. It was brief, but he was finally a big leaguer at 29 years old.
His time in Boston lasted three seasons. The results were mixed. Ort posted a 6.35 ERA in 25 games during 2022. He made 21 appearances in 2023 before right elbow inflammation ended his season. The Red Sox placed him on outright waivers that October.
Four teams claimed before Houston gave him a real chance
What happened next was unusual. Ort became a waiver wire frequent flyer. The Mariners claimed him in October 2023. The Marlins grabbed him in December. The Phillies took him in February 2024. He was traded to the Orioles later that month.
Baltimore sent him to Triple-A Norfolk. Ort struggled badly. He posted a 12.08 ERA in 14 games. The Astros claimed him on May 28, 2024.
Houston gave him something no one else had: a real opportunity. Ort was called up on July 29, 2024. He responded with the best stretch of his career. In 22 appearances, he posted a 2.55 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. His walk rate dropped to 4.3 percent.
His 2025 season in Houston ended with elbow injury
Ort entered 2025 with momentum. An oblique strain delayed his start. He was activated on April 27 and pitched through the summer. The numbers told a different story than 2024.
He made 49 appearances for Houston, setting career highs in games and innings. But his ERA ballooned to 4.89. He walked 27 batters in 46 innings. Right elbow inflammation landed him on the injured list in September. His season was done.
The Astros designated Ort for assignment on January 2 to make room for Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai. One week later, the Yankees scooped him up.
What Yankees are getting in their former farmhand
Ort stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 240 pounds. He throws right and bats right. His fastball averaged 96.4 mph last season, ranking in the 83rd percentile for velocity. In 2024, it touched 97.5 mph.
He was especially tough on right-handed batters in 2025. Righties hit just .188/.311/.317 against him. Left-handed hitters fared better at .254/.342/.524.
Over five MLB seasons with Boston and Houston, Ort owns a 5-7 record with two saves and a 5.00 ERA in 118 games. The strikeout stuff is real. The command remains a work in progress.
Yankees bullpen picture for 2026 is still taking shape
David Bednar will close games. Camilo Doval will set him up. Both were acquired at last year’s trade deadline. Beyond those two, the picture gets murky.
Fernando Cruz, Brent Headrick, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn are among the returning options. Ort will compete with them for innings.
He has no minor league options remaining. If the Yankees keep him, he stays on the 40-man roster. If they cut him, another team will likely grab him just as quickly as before.
Ort is not a savior. He is a depth piece with a big fastball and an inconsistent track record. But the Yankees know him. They developed him. And seven years after losing him to the Red Sox, he is finally back where it all started.
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