Adam Ottavino Bio
Adam Robert Ottavino (born November 22, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 246 pounds, the right-handed thrower and switch hitter has spent more than a decade in Major League Baseball (MLB) after being drafted in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft. Across his career, Ottavino has built a reputation as a durable relief pitcher, contributing out of the bullpen for several contending clubs.
Over the course of his career, Ottavino has played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets. He is best known for his high strikeout rates, his slider-heavy approach, and his ability to log heavy usage as a middle reliever and closer. He resides in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, New York.
Early Life and Background
Ottavino was born in Manhattan and grew up in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn after his family moved across the borough when he was three years old. He attended P.S. 39, The Henry Bristow School, and I.S. 240 Andries Hudde for junior high before graduating from the Berkeley Carroll School in 2003. Growing up in New York City placed him near a strong baseball culture, and he played in local youth and summer leagues during his formative years.
As a teenager, Ottavino played in a summer developmental league alongside Dellin Betances, who would later become a New York Yankees teammate. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected him in the 30th round of the 2003 MLB draft, but he did not sign with the club. Instead, he chose to continue his baseball development at the college level.
Ottavino enrolled at Northeastern University, where he played college baseball for the Northeastern Huskies. He holds both the Northeastern career and single-season records for strikeouts. In 2005, he was recognized as the America East Conference Pitcher of the Year, and he later played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Path to Professional Baseball
Ottavino’s college performance elevated him into first-round consideration. The St. Louis Cardinals selected him out of Northeastern University with the 30th overall pick of the 2006 MLB draft. That same year, he began his professional career with the Swing of the Quad Cities of the Class A Midwest League, working his way up the organization’s developmental ladder.
In 2008, Ottavino advanced to the Springfield Cardinals of the Class AA Texas League, and by 2009 he was pitching for the Memphis Redbirds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. After struggling to an 0-9 record in the first half of the 2009 season, he rebounded with a 7-3 mark in the second half, demonstrating the resilience that would mark his later relief work. The Cardinals added him to their 40-man roster after the 2009 season.
Adam Ottavino Career
Early Career (2010-2011)
On May 29, 2010, Ottavino made his major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals as a starting pitcher. He appeared in five games for the Cardinals that season, including three starts, before being outrighted off the 40-man roster after the year. He returned to Memphis in 2011, where he continued refining his arsenal before the Cardinals re-added him to the 40-man roster.
On April 3, 2012, the Colorado Rockies claimed Ottavino off waivers, assigning him to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League. The Rockies later promoted him to the majors and developed him into a full-time relief pitcher, a transition that reshaped his career trajectory.
Colorado Rockies Breakthrough (2012-2018)
In 2013, Ottavino switched his uniform number to 0, and that season he appeared in 51 games, logging 78.1 innings with a 2.64 ERA. He went 1-4 with a 3.60 ERA in a career-high 75 games in 2014, establishing himself as a steady presence in the Rockies bullpen.
After closer LaTroy Hawkins struggled to open the 2015 season, Ottavino was named the new closer. However, a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow was revealed on May 4, 2015, and he underwent Tommy John surgery that ended his 2015 season. Following the year, he agreed to a three-year, $10.4 million contract with the Rockies.
Ottavino began 2016 on the disabled list but returned to record 37 consecutive scoreless appearances across 31 innings, a Rockies franchise record. In 2018, he finished 6-4 with a 2.34 ERA and shared the major league lead in holds with 34, cementing his status as one of the National League’s most reliable relievers.
New York Yankees (2019-2020)
On January 24, 2019, the New York Yankees signed Ottavino to a three-year, $27 million contract. He became the first Yankee in team history to wear uniform number 0, the last single-digit number not retired by the club. During the 2019 season, Ottavino appeared in 73 games, all in relief, posting a 6-5 record with a 1.90 ERA and 88 strikeouts across 66.1 innings.
In the shortened 2020 season, he made 24 relief appearances with a 5.89 ERA and a 2-3 record, striking out 25 batters in 18.1 innings. Following the 2020 campaign, the Yankees traded him to the Boston Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox (2021)
On January 25, 2021, the Yankees traded Ottavino and minor league pitcher Frank German to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations or a player to be named later. During the regular season, he appeared in 69 games, all in relief, compiling a 7-3 record with 11 saves and a 4.21 ERA while striking out 71 batters in 62 innings. In the postseason, he allowed one run across four relief innings as Boston advanced to the American League Championship Series. He elected free agency on November 3, 2021.
New York Mets (2022-2024)
On March 14, 2022, Ottavino signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the New York Mets. He made 66 appearances during the regular season, going 6-3 with three saves and a 2.06 ERA while striking out 79 batters across 65.2 innings. He made one postseason appearance, allowing one run in an inning during the National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.
On December 20, 2022, Ottavino re-signed with the Mets on a two-year, $14.5 million contract with an opt-out after 2023. In 66 games in 2023, he posted a 3.21 ERA with 62 strikeouts across 61.2 innings. He opted out of his deal on November 6, 2023, and re-signed with the Mets on January 30, 2024, for one year at $4.5 million. In 60 games in 2024, he posted a 4.34 ERA with 70 strikeouts across 56 innings, was removed from the National League Championship Series roster, and became a free agent after the season.
New York Yankees Second Stint (2025)
On February 18, 2025, Ottavino signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, but was released after triggering an opt-out clause on March 23. He then signed a major league contract with the Yankees on April 1, made two scoreless appearances, and was designated for assignment on April 4. He elected free agency on April 6, re-signed with the Yankees on a new contract the following day, and was designated for assignment again on April 8. After clearing waivers, he elected free agency once more on April 10.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ottavino is known for a slider-heavy arsenal that has produced high strikeout totals throughout his career, including seasons of 79 and 88 strikeouts in middle-relief roles. He has shown the durability to log heavy usage, once appearing in 75 games in a single season, and has thrived when assigned late-inning leverage work. His willingness to attack hitters and his ability to generate swings and misses have made him a trusted option for multiple organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
His 37 consecutive scoreless appearances for the Rockies in 2016 set a franchise record and marked one of the most dominant stretches of his career. In 2018, he shared the major league lead in holds with 34, signaling his elite performance in high-leverage situations. He also became the first Yankees player in team history to wear uniform number 0, marking a small but distinctive milestone.
Adam Ottavino Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career, Adam Ottavino has accumulated victories as a starter and reliever across the Cardinals, Rockies, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets organizations. His wins have come in a variety of roles, including spot starts early in his career and late-inning relief appearances.
Major League Highlights
Ottavino recorded single-season win totals of six with the Rockies in both 2013 and 2018, and he posted a career-best seven wins for the Boston Red Sox in 2021. He also added six wins with the Mets in 2022, demonstrating continued value as a reliever who could contribute to his team’s win column. Beyond MLB, he was a member of the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League during his college summers.
Other Wins and Performances
In the minor leagues, Ottavino anchored rotations for the Swing of the Quad Cities, Springfield Cardinals, Memphis Redbirds, and Colorado Springs Sky Sox, helping develop his durability and pitch repertoire. He has posted double-digit save totals in seasons as a closer candidate, including 11 saves during his lone year with the Boston Red Sox.
Adam Ottavino Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Ottavino is married to his wife, Brette. Following his first season with the Yankees, the couple lived in his childhood neighborhood of Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York City, along with their two daughters and son. The family currently resides in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.
Outside of baseball, Ottavino has invested in pitching development. After the 2017 season, he rented a vacant storefront on St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem from his father-in-law and converted it into a pitching lab, where he and other players used technology and data to refine their craft.
2025 Season Performance
Adam Ottavino entered the 2025 MLB season as a free agent looking to extend his major league career. On February 18, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, then was released on March 23 after triggering an opt-out clause. Just over a week later, he signed a major league contract with the New York Yankees on April 1, marking his return to the Bronx for a second stint.
After two scoreless appearances with the Yankees in April 2025, Ottavino was designated for assignment on April 4. He elected free agency on April 6, re-signed with the Yankees on a new major league contract the following day, and was designated for assignment again on April 8. After clearing waivers, he elected free agency once more on April 10, leaving his 2025 outlook open as he evaluated his next opportunity.