Inside the Astros

Tatsuya Imai Signing Forces Astros to DFA Relief Pitcher

An Astros relief pitcher was just designated for assignment to make room for incoming pitcher Tatsuya Imai
Jeremy Gretzer|
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Chandler Rome of The Athletic just broke the news that the Houston Astros just let go one of their relief pitchers in Kaleb Ort. Ort, who was mostly a reliable middle relief and occasional setup man for Houston and had been with the Astros for two seasons.

Tatsuya Imai, the recent pitcher Houston signed from Japan, will likely become an integral piece to the starting rotation. Prior to signing him, the 40-man roster was full. The Astros needed to give up one of their players. Fans hoped it wouldn't be someone important, so Ort was the one to go.

Ort was claimed off waivers by the Astros from the Seattle Mariners in May of 2024 and made his Houston debut in June. He then pitched for two seasons, with 2024 being his best season in Houston, pitching to a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings with a 0.83 WHIP.

Ort pitched a full season the following year, spiked his ERA to 4.89 with a 1.34 WHIP, and struck out 49 batters in 46 innings, the most innings he's pitched in his MLB career. His overall pitching stats don't tell the whole story. While Ort started 2025 slow, pitching to an ERA above 5.50 from April to June, the 33-year-old settled in, with ERAs of 2.79 in July and 2.25 in August.

Ort could have continued on this surge but injuries halted it, ending his season with elbow inflammation in early September.

The Michigan native will likely find another bullpen on a team in need of quick outs with a high strikeout count. Losing him won't necessarily hurt the Astros bullpen, but the emergence of a Japanese ace in Imai to bolster the starting rotation is exactly what Houston needs.

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Jeremy Gretzer
JEREMY GRETZER

Jeremy Gretzer joins Minute Media/Sports Illustrated with a unique background that blends creativity from the performing arts with real experience in sports journalism. Born and raised in Houston, Jeremy has always had a deep connection to the local sports scene, especially the Astros and Rockets. He previously covered the Houston Rockets as a beat reporter for ClutchPoints, where he spent more than a year interviewing players, attending media days, and reporting on the team. He also spent time with Back Sports Page, where he strengthened his writing, editing, and social media skills and eventually grew into an editor role. In addition, he contributed to FanSided’s Astros site Climbing Tal’s Hill, giving him valuable experience covering both the NBA and MLB. Jeremy has been involved in sports journalism on and off since 2022, and over that time he has written articles, handled digital coverage, and created content across multiple platforms. He also shares Astros commentary and baseball storytelling on his TikTok page, where he continues to build an active and engaged audience. Now returning his focus to baseball coverage, Jeremy brings passion, authenticity, and a true Houston perspective to SI’s Astros reporting

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