Eric Orze #17

Selected by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of New Orleans...Transferred to the University of New Orleans for his 2018 junior campaign…appeared in 13 games (4GS) over two seasons, pitching to a 5.70 ERA (36.1IP, 23ER) with 42 strikeouts...Began his collegiate career with two seasons at Northwest Florida State College...Eric is a two-time cancer survivor…he was first diagnosed with testicular cancer two months shy of his 21st birthday, undergoing successful surgery to remove the tumor…after another surgery to remove swollen lymph nodes, he was admitted to the hospital with fluid in his lungs… that issue was quickly resolved, but doctors noticed a suspicious mole on his back, leading to a melanoma diagnosis just three months after the testicular cancer was discovered…several more surgeries and full body scans later, he was declared cancer-free…he returned to the mound on opening night for the University of New Orleans before their season was canceled amidst the COVID-19 pandemic...Before returning to play, Eric trained at a facility in Covington, La., called TopVelocity, working with owner Brent Pourciau to overhaul his strength and conditioning, nutrition and biomechanics…he also worked to develop his splitter, which was featured by Rob Friedman (Pitching Ninja) on Twitter in April 2020, into a “major league” pitch…after the season was canceled, Pourciau used his vast social media audience of nearly 450,000 followers to showcase Eric’s milestones and progress, including a 36-inch vertical jump, rapidly climbing velocity and improved spin rates…the social media attention had a significant impact on Eric’s fifth-round selection by the Mets in 2020.

2024

Saw his first career Major League action, appearing in two games…selected by the Mets from Triple-A Syracuse on July 6, debuted on July 8 at PIT and was optioned on July 10…had a second Major League stint from July 26-27...Made 43 relief outings for Triple-A Syracuse, going 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA (61.2IP, 20ER), three saves and 84 SO…ranked among International League leaders (min. 60.0IP) in strikeouts per 9 IP (7th, 12.26) and ERA (8th)…Ranked second among Mets farmhands in appearances and tied for fourth in wins...With Syracuse, limited left-handed hitters to a .147/.242/.207 (17-for-116) line with one HR compared to .245/.355/.472 (26-for-106) with seven HR against right-handed batters...In April and May, turned in a 4.01 ERA (24.2IP, 11ER) and 1.60 WHIP over his first 16 appearances, walking 23.4 pct. of batters faced… from June 1 on, pitched to a 1.75 ERA (36.0IP, 7ER), 1.06 WHIP and 8.9 percent walk rate across his final 26 outings, the fifth-lowest ERA in all of Triple-A over that timeframe (min. 35.0IP)…On July 8 at PIT, made his Major League debut yielding three runs without recording an out… made his second career appearance on July 26 vs. ATL (1.2IP, 1H, 1ER, 1HR, 1BB, 1SO)…fanned Jarred Kelenic for his first career strikeout...Placed on the 7-day IL from Aug. 7-15 (right rotator cuff tendinitis)…Yielded only one run over his final 10 outings from Aug. 20 on, posting a 0.66 ERA (13.2IP, 1ER)…this stretch included a 13 scoreless inning streak...Acquired by the Rays on Nov. 11 in exchange for OF Jose Siri. 

2023

Spent the entire season with Syracuse (AAA) where he went 3-4 with a 5.31 ERA (36 ER/61.0 IP) with 41 walks and 81 strikeouts across 39 games...Struck out a season-high five batters on four separate occasions....Tossed a season-high 3.0 innings on three separate occasions... Established career highs in innings (61.0), games (39) and strikeouts (81)...Was on the Injured List from Aug. 7-15...Ended the year tossing 11.0 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits with 20 strikeouts (Aug. 31-Sept. 22).

2022

Went 4-3 with a 5.13 ERA, one save and a 12.17 K/9 ratio in 32 games with Syracuse (AAA)... Had two separate stints on the 7-Day Injured List, July 19-26 and Aug. 2-Sept. 1...Made two rehab appearances with St. Lucie (A).

2021

In his first pro season, ascended through the Mets system, reaching Triple-A Syracuse after starting the year with Brooklyn (A+)...Recorded a 12.14 K/9 ratio in 49.2 innings at three levels of the organization.