Orlando Ribalta

Orlando Ribalta, a Major League Baseball player, serves as a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Born on March 5, 1998, in Santa Clara, Cuba, Ribalta stands 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 245 pounds. He bats and throws right-handed. Ribalta's journey in professional baseball began when he was drafted in the 12th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Nationals. Ribalta made his MLB debut on August 13, 2024, demonstrating a promising start to his career. During the 2025 regular season, Ribalta appeared in 22 games, all from the bullpen. He pitched a total of 24.1 innings, recording an earned run average (ERA) of 7.027. Throughout these games, he managed 25 strikeouts, showcasing a strikeout rate of 9.243 per nine innings. His fastball velocity averaged 96.4 mph, reaching a maximum of 99.5 mph, which is notable for a reliever. Despite facing challenges with a high WHIP of 1.8493 and allowing a batting average against of .277, Ribalta's potential is evident in his strikeout ability and his powerful pitching arsenal, including his notable slider and changeup. Ribalta's fielding statistics are also noteworthy, with a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 over the innings he played. As he continues to develop, Ribalta remains an intriguing player to watch for his contribution to the Nationals' bullpen.