Eric Orze Bio
Eric Paul Orze is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed reliever, he has also played in the majors for the New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays. Drafted by the Mets in 2020, Orze reached the major leagues in 2024 after working his way through the minor leagues.
Beyond his baseball career, Orze is widely recognized for his resilience off the field. He was diagnosed with both testicular cancer and skin cancer while attending the University of New Orleans. After treatment, he returned to the sport and built himself into a reliable bullpen arm, a story that has made him a respected figure among teammates and fans.
Early Life and Background
Eric Paul Orze was born on August 21, 1997, in Carol Stream, Illinois, United States. He grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and attended Glenbard North High School, where he developed his early love for baseball. His time at Glenbard North helped him sharpen the pitching foundation that would eventually take him to the professional level.
Following high school, Orze continued his education and athletic career at the University of New Orleans, where he played college baseball for the New Orleans Privateers. College ball gave him a higher level of competition and exposure, but it also brought one of the most difficult chapters of his life. While at New Orleans, Orze was diagnosed with testicular cancer and skin cancer, forcing him to step away from the game in order to focus on treatment and recovery.
Path to Baseball
Orze worked his way back to the mound after his cancer treatment, using the experience to fuel his competitive drive. His performance at the University of New Orleans caught the attention of professional scouts, and he entered the 2020 Major League Baseball draft as a draft-eligible college pitcher. The New York Mets selected him in the fifth round, with the 150th overall pick, marking the formal start of his professional career.
Because the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Orze had to wait until 2021 to make his professional debut. That delayed start did not slow his development, as he climbed through the Mets system by relying on a strong work ethic and the perspective he had gained during his health battle. His path to the majors was steady and patient rather than sudden, but it ultimately positioned him for a long big-league career.
Eric Orze Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Orze made his professional debut in 2021 with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones. During that season he was promoted to the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies and the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, gaining valuable experience across three levels. Over 34 relief appearances, he went 4–2 with a 3.08 ERA and 67 strikeouts across 49 and two-thirds innings, signaling that he belonged in upper-level professional baseball.
From 2022 to 2023, Orze spent the majority of his time with Triple-A Syracuse, with two scoreless appearances for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets in 2022. Across those seasons he refined his role as a late-inning reliever, logging high strikeout totals even when his ERA fluctuated. By the end of 2023, his consistent bullpen performance had put him on the doorstep of the major leagues.
New York Mets Breakthrough (2024)
Orze began the 2024 season back at Syracuse and dominated at that level, posting a 3.76 ERA with 56 strikeouts and two saves across 38 and one-third innings. His performance convinced the Mets to bring him to the majors, and on July 6, 2024, he was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the big leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that year, appearing in two games and striking out one batter across one and two-thirds innings during his rookie campaign.
Although his 2024 stint in the majors was brief, it marked the realization of a long-held dream. The Mets then made a notable move at the 2024 trade deadline, dealing Orze to the Tampa Bay Rays on November 19, 2024, in exchange for outfielder Jose Siri. That transaction set the stage for the next chapter of his career in the American League.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2025)
Orze was optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls to open the 2025 season, continuing his role as a depth reliever who could be called up when needed. He soon returned to the major league roster and made an immediate impact in the Tampa Bay bullpen. On June 13, 2025, he recorded his first career major league win after throwing a scoreless inning of relief against his former team, the New York Mets.
Across 33 appearances with the Rays in 2025, Orze posted a 1-1 record with a 3.02 ERA, 40 strikeouts, and three saves in 41 and two-thirds innings. His strong run in the Tampa Bay bullpen established him as a trusted late-inning option and gave him a full season of consistent major league work for the first time in his career.
Minnesota Twins Era (2026–Present)
On November 18, 2025, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Orze to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for prospect Jacob Kisting. The deal gave him a new organization and a fresh opportunity heading into the 2026 campaign. He joined a Twins bullpen that valued his strikeout ability and his track record of performing in high-leverage situations.
Through games of June 20, 2026, Orze had posted a 3-4 record with a 4.20 ERA and 72 strikeouts for the Twins. His work out of the bullpen continued to be defined by swing-and-miss stuff and the poise he had developed through years of overcoming adversity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Orze’s career is defined as much by perseverance as by performance. His battle with testicular cancer and skin cancer during college is a central part of his story, and his return to professional baseball stands as a defining milestone. His first major league win against the Mets on June 13, 2025, and his trade to the Minnesota Twins later that year mark the latest major chapters in a journey that continues to inspire.
Eric Orze Career Wins
Eric Orze’s career wins reflect steady development rather than rapid stardom, with success coming at multiple minor league levels before reaching the major leagues. He recorded his first career MLB win on June 13, 2025, while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays against the New York Mets, working a scoreless inning of relief. The milestone capped years of perseverance through injuries, cancer treatment, and a delayed professional debut due to the canceled 2020 minor league season.
Major League Highlights
Orze has accumulated major league wins across two organizations, beginning with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025 and continuing with the Minnesota Twins in 2026. His first major league victory came in relief against the Mets, the organization that originally drafted him and gave him his debut. He has continued to add to that total while serving as a consistent late-inning option in the Twins bullpen.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching the majors, Orze built a strong win-loss record in the minor leagues, including a 4-2 mark across three levels in 2021 and additional victories at Triple-A Syracuse. His ability to miss bats, evidenced by high strikeout totals at every stop, has been a consistent theme throughout his career and a major reason teams have continued to give him major league opportunities.
Eric Orze Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Eric Paul Orze was raised in Carol Stream, Illinois, and developed his baseball skills at Glenbard North High School before continuing at the University of New Orleans. While specific details about his parents and immediate family are not widely documented in public sources, his upbringing in the Chicago suburbs and his commitment to the sport laid the foundation for his professional career. His family supported him through his cancer treatment and his return to baseball, an experience that strengthened his resolve to reach the major leagues.
Personal Life
Orze is widely known for his openness about his cancer diagnosis and recovery, viewing his second chance at a baseball career as motivation to give back. He has used his platform to raise awareness about cancer detection and resilience, becoming a quiet role model in clubhouses. His personal life, including relationships and family details beyond his parents, remains largely private.
2025 Season Performance
Eric Orze’s 2025 season began at the Triple-A Durham Bulls before a midseason promotion to the Tampa Bay Rays, where he carved out a meaningful role in the bullpen. He made 33 appearances for Tampa Bay, going 1-1 with a 3.02 ERA, 40 strikeouts, and three saves across 41 and two-thirds innings. His performance earned him his first career MLB win on June 13, 2025, against the New York Mets, a milestone that came against the franchise that had originally drafted him.
Throughout 2025, Orze served as a reliable middle-to-late-inning option, leaning on his strikeout ability to escape high-leverage situations. His consistency in Tampa Bay built trust with the coaching staff and positioned him as a trade asset heading into the offseason. The Rays ultimately moved him to the Minnesota Twins on November 18, 2025, in exchange for prospect Jacob Kisting, signaling that his 2025 work had real value around the league.
Looking ahead, Orze’s strong finish to 2025 and his continued development set the stage for an important next chapter with the Minnesota Twins. His combination of swing-and-miss stuff, bullpen experience, and mental toughness gives him a clear opportunity to take on a larger late-inning role. The 2025 season, by every measure, marked his arrival as a full-time major league reliever.
