Bio

Kaleb James Ort (born February 5, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 240 pounds (110 kg), he throws and bats right-handed. Biography Ort grew up in Lowell, Michigan, and played college baseball at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan; he was not selected in the MLB draft. He first played professionally during 2016 and 2017 for the Joliet Slammers of the independent Frontier League. Ort was briefly in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, but did not play for any of their farm teams. He was signed by the New York Yankees in May 2017, and played in their organization through the 2019 season, reaching the Triple-A level. After not playing during 2020 due to cancellation of the minor-league season, Ort was selected by the Boston Red Sox during the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December 2020. Ort opened the 2021 season in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox. On September 10, the Red Sox added Ort to their active roster. He made his major-league debut on September 13; pitching in relief against the Seattle Mariners, he allowed one hit and no runs in 1⁄3 of an inning. Ort was returned to Worcester, and removed from the 40-man roster, on September 14. In 42 relief appearances with Worcester, Ort recorded 19 saves with a 2.98 earned run average (ERA) while striking out 62 batters in 45+1⁄3 innings pitched. Ort returned to Worcester to begin the 2022 season, pitching out of the bullpen as a closer. He was added to Boston's active roster on July 9, and made his first MLB appearance of the season the next day. He split time between Worcester and Boston during August, and spent almost all of September with Boston.