Cristhian Tortosa, a longtime minor league prospect for the Detroit Tigers, signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, marking his return to an MLB organization.
Before choosing free agency in November 2023, the Venezuelan left-handed pitcher inked a contract with the Tigers in 2015 and stayed with the team for more than eight years.
In 2023, Tortosa advanced to High-A with the Tigers before departing the team. He pitched 184 1/3 innings, mostly as a relief, and accumulated a 13-14 record and 5.47 ERA.
Tortosa did not participate in the 2024 season following his departure. For the 2024–2025 season, he finally joined Ponce of the Puerto Rican Winter League, where he pitched 17 2/3 innings in four starts with a 3.06 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
Before joining the Phillies on Thursday, the 26-year-old pitched in two games this season for the Frontier League’s Schaumburg Boomers, going three scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
After RHP Beau Blanchard agreed to join the Cincinnati Reds’ affiliates, Tortosa became the second Frontier League player to have their contract acquired by an MLB organization this week.
Tortosa was assigned to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, the Phillies’ High-A affiliate, upon joining the team.
