4 Cleveland Guardians who have failed to impress in spring training

3. Luis Ortiz - Starting Pitcher

As part of their attempt to bolster and stabilize their starting rotation, the Cleveland Guardians acquired starting pitcher Luis Ortiz from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Coming off a breakout of sorts in 2024, the Guardians are hoping their track record of success in the pitching department can help Ortiz become even more effective. The results out in Arizona, however, do not look all that encouraging.

In four spring training starts, Ortiz has allowed 15 runs on 16 hits and six walks with 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Like the previously mentioned Triston McKenzie, Ortiz has given up three home runs this spring, both being tied for the most allowed by a Guardians pitcher in Cactus League play. But unlike McKenzie, Ortiz is striking out batters at a higher rate (10.1) than he did last season (7.1), and that is a rare positive in a sea of spring training negatives.

The volume of hits and runs allowed, along with the free passes issued, are not great and could point toward a regression in 2025. Ortiz's 3.32 ERA and 1.113 WHIP in 2024 were career-bests, but his low strikeout and ground ball rates indicate that his performance may have been somewhat of a mirage. That could very well be the case should his struggles carry over into the regular season, but ideally, any and all considerations of this scenario come to an end when the games officially count.