The Orioles found a pitcher today in a most unlikely place as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches.
Rather than deal with another major league team, the Orioles signed right-hander Logan Ondrusek and designated reliever Chaz Roe for assignment.
Ondrusek, 31, spent the past two seasons with the Yakult Swallows of the Japan Central League, going 8-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 102 games. He allowed 24 earned runs over 99 2/3 innings.
Ondrusek went 3-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in 30 games this season, allowing eight earned runs over 29 1/3 innings.
The Reds drafted Ondrusek, who's listed at 6-foot-8 and 230 lbs., in the 13th round of the 2005 draft out of McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. He's 21-11 with a 3.89 ERA in five seasons with the Reds, making 281 relief appearances. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2014, when he went 3-3 with a 5.49 ERA in 40 games.
Ondrusek appeared in the 2010 National League Division Series and the 2013 NL wild card game. He was granted free agency in December 2014.
Left-handers are batting .236 against Ondrusek in the majors, while right-handers are hitting .257.
"Ondrusek is a proven major league pitcher with good stuff and we believe he can help our major league club now," executive vice president Dan Duquette wrote in a text message.
Roe, 29, went 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA and 11 strikeouts in nine games with the Orioles, all of them this month. He allowed four earned runs in 9 2/3 innings.
Roe pitched last night in Minnesota and surrendered one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings. He's out of minor league options, which is why the Orioles designated him.
Orioles find new reliever Ondrusek in most unlikely place
Stay Informed
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.