Joey Ortiz
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Joey Ortiz
|image = Joey Ortiz 1 61824 (cropped).jpg
|caption = Ortiz with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024
|team = Milwaukee Brewers
|number = 3
|position = Infielder
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|7|14}}
|birth_place = Garden Grove, California, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = April 27
|debutyear = 2023
|debutteam = Baltimore Orioles
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = May 1, 2025
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .229
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 11
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 69
|stat4label = Stolen bases
|stat4value = 15
|teams =
- Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2023}})
- Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2024}}–present)
}}
Joseph Anthony Ortiz (born July 14, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023 for the Baltimore Orioles.
Amateur career
Ortiz attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, where he played baseball and hit .417 with six triples as a senior in 2016.{{cite web | url=https://www.pacificamarinersbaseball.com/teams/default.asp?u=PACIFICAMARINERSBASEBALL&s=baseball&p=custom&pagename=All%2DTime+Records | title=All%2DTime Records }} He went unselected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and enrolled at New Mexico State University to play college baseball for the New Mexico State Aggies.
As a freshman at New Mexico State in 2017, Ortiz played in 55 games and hit .306 with 14 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs.{{cite web | title=New Mexico State picked second behind Grand Canyon in WAC preseason poll | website=Las Cruces Sun-News | date=February 8, 2018 | url=https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/college/nmsu/2018/02/07/new-mexico-state-picked-second-behind-grand-canyon-wac-preseason-poll/317834002/ | access-date=December 7, 2024}} For the 2018 season, he played sixty games and batted .289 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.{{cite web | url=http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2019/01/29/2019-college-baseball-daily-season-preview-and-predictions-wac/ | title=2019 College Baseball Daily Season Preview and Predictions: WAC | date=January 29, 2019 }} That summer, he played for the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League.{{cite web | url=https://www.wctrib.com/sports/stingers-fall-late-to-larks | title=Stingers fall late to Larks | date=July 28, 2018 }} As a junior in 2019, Ortiz played in 55 games and batted .422 with eight home runs, 84 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and 25 doubles and was one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2019-brooks-wallace-award-finalists-released | title=2019 Brooks Wallace Award finalists released | website=MLB.com }}
Professional career
=Baltimore Orioles=
The Baltimore Orioles selected Ortiz in the fourth round with the 108th overall selection in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/2019/06/04/new-mexico-state-baseball-joey-ortiz-selected-baltimore-orioles-mlb-draft/1342932001/ | title=New Mexico State's Joey Ortiz selected by Baltimore Orioles }} Ortiz signed with the Orioles and made his professional debut with the Aberdeen IronBirds, batting .241 with one home run and 17 RBIs over 56 games.{{cite web | url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/unassuming-shortstop-joey-ortiz-fits-right-in-with-fellow-2019-draftees | title=Unassuming shortstop Joey Ortiz fits right in with fellow 2019 draftees | date=January 21, 2021 }} He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=June 28, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He started the 2021 season with Aberdeen and was promoted to the Bowie Baysox during the season, but played in only 35 games between both teams due to a shoulder injury.{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-joey-ortiz-shortstop-prospect-20220319-zz36ll6l5jgyfj23s44a7zcfh4-story.html | title=Joey Ortiz's spring training highlight only a glimpse of what Orioles shortstop prospect can provide | date=March 19, 2022 }} Over those 35 games, he hit .265 with four home runs and 17 RBIs.{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2022/03/09/despite-missing-much-2021-ortiz-highly-rated-orioles-mayo-showing-power-norby-finding-way/ | title=Orioles' Ortiz remains highly rated; Mayo brings power; Norby likes competition | date=March 9, 2022 }} He returned to Bowie to begin the 2022 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-minor-league-prospects-joey-ortiz-colton-cowser-20220804-ybuj35mfzvd6tgzaakch74gkky-story.html | title=Orioles minor league report: Joey Ortiz completes grand July as Colton Cowser also goes off for Bowie | date=August 4, 2022 }} In late August, he was promoted to the Norfolk Tides.{{cite web | url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/bs-sp-orioles-promote-colton-cowser-joey-ortiz-20220829-yltoigvnzbdabhy3lugpyt2kiq-story.html | title=Orioles promote hot-hitting prospects Colton Cowser, Joey Ortiz to Triple-A Norfolk | date=August 29, 2022 }} Over 137 games between both teams, he slashed .284/.349/.477 with 19 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 35 doubles.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/joseph-ortiz-687401?season=2022&team=568 | title=Joseph Ortiz Stats, Fantasy & News }}
On November 15, 2022, the Orioles selected Ortiz's contract and added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web |title=Orioles add Grayson Rodriguez, 4 other prospects to 40-man roster for Rule 5 draft protection |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-grayson-rodriguez-rule-5-draft-protections-20221115-q3f7gbbfivafhjpaplu7spx4ya-story.html |access-date=February 1, 2023 |website=Baltimore Sun|date=November 15, 2022 }} Ortiz was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the 2023 season.{{cite web|title=Orioles' Joey Ortiz: Optioned to minors|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-joey-ortiz-optioned-to-minors/amp/|access-date=March 14, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He played in 16 games, hitting .359/.389/.500 with no home runs and 8 RBI.
On April 27, 2023, Ortiz was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-joey-ortiz-summoned-to-majors/amp/|title=Orioles' Joey Ortiz: Summoned to majors|website=CBSSports.com}} In 15 games during his rookie campaign, Ortiz batted .212/.206/.242 with no home runs and 4 RBI. {{Cite web|title=What Are the Brewers Getting in Shortstop Joey Ortiz?|url=https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/milwaukee-brewers/brewers-trade-joey-ortiz-2024-projections/|access-date=February 5, 2024|website=brewerfanatic.com|date=February 3, 2024 |language=en}} Ortiz was shuffled between the major leagues and minor leagues three times in 2023, and spent the final three months of the season with Norfolk in Triple-A.
= Milwaukee Brewers =
On February 1, 2024, the Orioles traded Ortiz and DL Hall to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes.{{cite news |last1=Passan |first1=Jeff |title=Orioles acquire former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes from Brewers |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39439077/brewers-trade-corbin-burnes-orioles |access-date=February 3, 2024 |work=ESPN.com |date=February 1, 2024}} Ortiz was included in multiple trade offers throughout the offseason, as the Orioles had a surplus of talent in their infield. On March 25, Ortiz was informed that he made the major league roster for the Brewers out of spring training.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-joey-ortiz-included-on-opening-day-roster/ |title=Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Included on Opening Day roster |work=CBS Sports |author=RotoWire Staff |date=March 25, 2024 |access-date=May 18, 2024}} He started at second base on Opening Day, but quickly found himself in a timeshare at third base with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-joey-ortiz-getting-call-at-second-base/ |title=Brewers' Joey Ortiz: Getting call at second base |work=CBS Sports |author=RotoWire Staff |date=March 29, 2024 |access-date=May 18, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/milwaukee-brewers/joey-ortiz-oliver-dunn-is-there-a-method-to-pat-murphys-madness-r2130/ |title=Joey Ortiz & Oliver Dunn: Is There A Method To Pat Murphy's Madness? |work=Brewer Fanatic |first=Jake |last=McKibbin |date=May 12, 2024 |access-date=May 18, 2024}} Ortiz was effectively handed the starting role when Dunn was optioned to the minor leagues on May 15.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joey-ortiz-homers-in-brewers-loss-to-astros |title='He's stepped up': Ortiz continues to impress Crew |work=MLB.com |first=Adam |last=McCalvy |date=May 17, 2024 |access-date=May 18, 2024}} Ortiz was named NL Rookie of the Month in May.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/brewers/news/mlb-monthly-award-winners-for-may-2024 |title=Joey Ortiz named NL Rookie of the Month for the Month of May |work=MLB.com |first=Thomas |last=Harrigan |date= June 3, 2024 |access-date=June 6, 2024}}
Ortiz became the Brewers' starting shortstop in 2025, after Willy Adames joined the San Francisco Giants.{{cite news |title=Brewers settle SS situation by moving Joey Ortiz over from 3B |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44305221/brewers-settle-ss-situation-moving-joey-ortiz-3b |access-date=March 19, 2025 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=March 18, 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseball stats|mlb=687401|espn=42958|br=o/ortizjo06|fangraphs=25493|brm=ortiz-002joe|retro=O/Portij005}}
- [https://nmstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/joey-ortiz/6126 New Mexico State Aggies bio]
{{Milwaukee Brewers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortiz, Joey}}
Category:Aberdeen IronBirds players
Category:Baltimore Orioles players
Category:Baseball players from Garden Grove, California
Category:Major League Baseball infielders
Category:Milwaukee Brewers players
Category:New Mexico State Aggies baseball players
Category:Norfolk Tides players