O'Rourke announced Monday via his personal Twitter account that he has retired from professional baseball.
O'Rourke accepted a volunteer assistant position with the baseball program at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts back in February, which seemingly foreshadowed his retirement. Though the COVID-19 pandemic freed him of his coaching obligations, O'Rourke made it clear Monday that he won't look to resume his playing career, which included major-league stops with the Twins (in 2015 and 2016) and the Mets (in 2019). Between those three seasons, the 32-year-old lefty reliever posted a 4.84 ERA and 49:28 over 48.1 innings spanning 56 appearances.
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Twins' Ryan O'Rourke: To join Triple-A Rochester
Rotowire
O'Rourke will join Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
O'Rourke signed a minor-league deal with the Twins on Friday and will officially join their highest affiliate Saturday. He most recently pitched with Triple-A Syracuse in the Mets' organization, posting a 3.27 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 47 strikeouts across 44 innings.
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Twins' Ryan O'Rourke: Inks MiLB deal with Twins
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O'Rourke signed a minor-league contract with Minnesota on Friday, Darren Wolfson of Skor North reports.
O'Rourke has spent the majority of the 2019 campaign in the Mets' organization with Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 3.27 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 47 punchouts over 44 innings. After latching on with Minnesota, he's expected to report to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
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Mets' Ryan O'Rourke: Clears waivers
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O'Rourke was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday, Matt Ehalt of Yahoo! Sports reports.
The Mets designated O'Rourke for assignment a few days earlier after he made only two appearances with the big club. The 31-year-old attracted limited interest after hitting the waiver wire and will stick around in the organization as bullpen depth in the high minors.
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Mets' Ryan O'Rourke: Removed from 40-man roster
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O'Rourke was designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.
O'Rourke has spent most of the season with Syracuse, compiling a 3.31 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 33:17 K:BB in 32.2 innings. This move frees up a spot on New York's 40-man roster for Chris Mazza, who had his contract purchased from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
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Mets' Ryan O'Rourke: Sent to Triple-A
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O'Rourke was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
O'Rourke was recalled from Triple-A prior to Thursday's game but did not pitch during his brief stint in the majors. The 31-year-old returns to Syracuse where he has a 3.10 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB over 20.1 innings this season.
O'Rourke was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Matt Ehalt of Yahoo Sports reports.
The Mets summon a fresh arm for the bullpen in O'Rourke, who had logged a 3.10 ERA and 18:8 K:BB in 20.1 innings at Triple-A. He will work in low-leverage spots during this big-league stint.
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Mets' Ryan O'Rourke: Sent to Triple-A
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O'Rourke was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.
O'Rourke recorded two outs while walking two batters in Saturday's 18-inning loss to the Brewers. The Mets brought in a pair of fresh arms in Tim Peterson and Tyler Bashlor, with O'Rourke and Chris Flexen sent to Syracuse.
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Mets' Ryan O'Rourke: Contract purchased by Mets
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O'Rourke's contract was purchased by the Mets on Wednesday.
O'Rourke is up to replace Jeurys Familia, who landed on the injured list with shoulder soreness. O'Rourke, a lefty, has thrown 47 major-league innings, none of which have come since 2016. He owns a career 4.98 ERA at the highest level.
The Mets informed O'Rourke on Saturday that he wouldn't make the team's Opening Day roster, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
With no big-league appearances since 2016, O'Rourke was facing long-shot odds to break camp with the Mets. Assuming the 30-year-old accepts a minor-league assignment, he'll likely open the campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Syracuse.
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Mets' Ryan O'Rourke: Inks minor-league deal with Mets
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O'Rourke signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Thursday.
The deal includes an invitation to spring training. O'Rourke was limited to just 14.1 innings across four minor-league levels in 2018 while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. The veteran left-hander last pitched in the majors for the Twins in 2016, when he posted a 3.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 24:10 K:BB across 25 innings of relief.
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Orioles' Ryan O'Rourke: Rehabbing with Aberdeen
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O'Rourke (elbow) has compiled a 2.35 ERA across 7.2 innings with the Gulf Coast League Orioles and Low-A Aberdeen.
O'Rourke has been rehabbing in the low minors as he works back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last May. The 30-year-old figures to report to Triple-A Norfolk once he's deemed fully healthy.
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Orioles' Ryan O'Rourke: Scheduled for bullpen session Saturday
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O'Rourke (elbow) will partake in a bullpen session Saturday, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.
O'Rourke continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last May. A return date should begin to appear in the near future once O'Rourke is able to take the hill for a couple sessions without experiencing any problems.
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Orioles' Ryan O'Rourke: Comes to terms with Orioles
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O'Rourke (elbow) agreed to a deal with the Orioles on Thursday, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.
O'Rourke was cut loose by the Twins after missing the entirety of the 2017 campaign following Tommy John surgery in May. It's unclear how far along the 29-year-old is in his rehab, but he'll be given the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Orioles' roster once he's back at full strength. O'Rourke posted a 3.96 ERA over 25 innings of relief during the 2016 season with the Twins.
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Twins' Ryan O'Rourke: Outrighted off 40-man
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O'Rourke (elbow) cleared waivers and was outrighted off the Twins' 40-man roster Monday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
O'Rourke missed all of the 2017 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May, and he's expected to miss part of next season as he continues to recover. He can refuse his outright assignment and elect to become a free agent if he desires.
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Twins' Ryan O'Rourke: Undergoes TJ surgery Tuesday
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O'Rourke had Tommy John surgery performed on his ailing left elbow Tuesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
O'Rourke received the bad news in the end of April, and it seems like the operation went off without a hitch. The southpaw will now look forward to 2018 as he rehabs for a return sometime in the beginning of next season.
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Twins' Ryan O'Rourke: Surgery on tap for partially-torn UCL
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O'Rourke (elbow) was diagnosed with a partially-torn UCL and will require Tommy John surgery, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Prior reports had proclaimed that there was no structural damage in his ailing elbow, but after a second opinion, it seems like the worst-case scenario will in fact come to fruition. O'Rourke will likely miss an extended chunk of time due to this operation, and could be out until next year if it ends up being a full reconstruction of his UCL. More details on his health should come forth as his surgery approaches.
