| Joe La Sorsa | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Team: | Washington Nationals |
| Number: | 53 |
| Birth Date: | 29 April 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Mount Kisco, New York, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | May 29 |
| Debutyear: | 2023 |
| Debutteam: | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Statyear: | August 17, 2024 |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 1–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 4.28 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 29 |
| Teams: |
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Joseph Peter La Sorsa (born April 29, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays selected La Sorsa in the 19th round of the 2019 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with them in 2023.
La Sorsa attended Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, and played for the school's baseball team.[1] In his senior year, he led Iona Prep's baseball team to the Catholic High School Athletic Association championship.[1] He enrolled at St. John's University and played college baseball for the St. John's Red Storm. In 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was 3-2 with a 5.79 ERA and pitched two innings of a combined no-hitter.[2] [3] [4]
The Tampa Bay Rays selected La Sorsa in the 19th round of the 2019 MLB draft.[5] He made his professional debut that year with the Hudson Valley Renegades.[6] He did not pitch professionally in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] La Sorsa played for the Italian national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[8]
La Sorsa was assigned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls in 2023, making nine appearances with a 3.86 earned run average.[9] On May 28, 2023, the Rays selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[10] He made his major league debut the next day, pitching two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and a walk. On June 3, after he had pitched in one additional major league game, La Sorsa was designated for assignment following the activation of Shawn Armstrong from the injured list.[11]
On June 8, 2023, the Nationals claimed La Sorsa off waivers.[12] He made four appearances for the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings before the Nationals promoted him to the major leagues.[13] In 23 relief outings for the Nationals, La Sorsa recorded a 4.76 ERA with 25 strikeouts across innings pitched. For Rochester, in 12 games he posted a 4.26 ERA with 14 strikeouts.[2] He was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Rochester on December 1.[14]
La Sorsa began the 2024 campaign with Rochester, compiling a 2.25 ERA with 41 strikeouts across 42 relief appearances. On August 17, 2024, the Nationals selected La Sorsa's contract. adding him to their active roster.[15]