Right-handed pitching prospect Luis Ortiz was optioned by the Pittsburgh Pirates to their Triple-A team. This move comes after the top-100 prospect put up an ERA of 10.50 in three spring training starts. Ortiz made his major-league debut last September with an xERA of 2.96 and an opponent wOBA of just .230 in four starts. His elite fastball-slider combo -- .114 opponent average on his 98 mph heater and an average of .174 on his slider -- draws comparisons to 2023 National League Cy Young contender Spencer Strider. The 24-year-old still needs a bit of polish, but his elite stuff is worth stashing, especially on a Pirates team that's already low on quality starting pitching.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Luis Ortiz has been called up from the minors and will make his major league debut in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, according to manager Derek Shelton. Ortiz is the team's No. 30 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and went a combined 5-9 with a 4.56 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 138 strikeouts and 38 walks in 124 1/3 innings over 26 appearances (25 starts) for Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis this year. The 23-year-old can hit the upper-90s with his heater, but he typically sits in the mid-90s with his fastball. Ortiz generates a lot of swings and misses with his out pitch, a slider. Because of how hard he throws, he could eventually be an arm out of the bullpen in a worst-case scenario.