04/11/2006 8:31 PM - The Kansas City T-Bones added another key ingredient to what they hope will be a championship formula in 2006 by re-signing lefty reliever J.C. Ortiz, the club announced today. Ortiz returns to Kansas City after going 2-1 with a 4.95 ERA in 30 appearances in 2005- his first season with the T-Bones.

"J.C. will play a big role for us as a situational left-hander." T-Bones' Manager "Dirty" Al Gallagher said. "He really came on strong toward the end of the summer."

Indeed he did. The Las Cruces, NM native allowed just one earned run over his final nine appearances (10.2 IP) of 2005.

"Hopefully he can build on the progress he made throughout the second-half of last season," Gallagher added.

Ortiz, 30, was selected by Houston in the 34th round of the 1999 draft out of the University of New Mexico. He enjoyed his finest season in 2001 when he posted a 2.15 ERA in 42 appearances while pitching for Chico of the now-defunct Western League.