Oliver Ortega designated for release or assignment
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy from the Washington Nationals in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Cristian Jimenez.
Alexy, 24, pitched in four games for the Texas Rangers in 2022, going 1-1 with a 11.57 ERA (7.0 IP, 9 ER), nine walks and six strikeouts. He spent most of last season with Triple-A Round Rock and recorded 103 strikeouts in 96.0 innings pitched. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-hander made his major league debut for Texas on August 30, 2021 and has gone 4-2 with a 6.30 ERA (30.0 IP, 21 ER), 26 walks and 23 strikeouts in nine career major league games, including four starts.
A native of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, Alexy was originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Twin Valley High School (Elverson, PA). He was acquired by the Rangers on July 31, 2017 along with Willie Calhoun and Brendon Davis in exchange for Yu Darvish, and claimed off waivers by the Nationals on December 13, 2022.
Jimenez, 18, went 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA (37.1 IP, 14 ER), one save, seven walks and 49 strikeouts in 10 games (7 starts) for the DSL Twins in 2022. He was signed by the Twins out of Venezuela in March 2021.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins have designated right-handed pitcher Oliver Ortega for release or assignment. Ortega was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on January 6.
