One of many offseason’s largest questions has been answered.
Who could be the primary Orioles infield prospect known as as a lot because the majors in 2023? Reply: Joey Ortiz.
The Orioles on Thursday morning promoted Ortiz, the membership’s No. 7 prospect in accordance with Baseball America, and optioned utilityman Terrin Vavra to Triple-A Norfolk. Ortiz was at a mall with Norfolk teammates Wednesday when Tides supervisor Buck Britton known as him to say he was heading to the majors. The following day, he was throughout the lineup for the Orioles’ sequence opener in direction of the Detroit Tigers, batting ninth in direction of left-hander Joey Wentz and having fun with second base. He acknowledged his girlfriend and parents will possible be in attendance at Comerica Park.
Ortiz, the Orioles’ fourth-round draft determine in 2019, began the season as thought-about considered one of three distinguished infield prospects in Norfolk alongside Jordan Westburg and Connor Norby, ranked Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, in Baltimore’s top-ranked farm system. All three had been ranked in Baseball America’s offseason excessive 100 guidelines. However Ortiz was the one one on Baltimore’s 40-man roster, and so as the Orioles sought in order so as to add one different right-handed bat sooner than a four-game sequence that may see them face left-handed starters throughout the first three video video games, Ortiz was the choice.
“I really feel just like the competitors’s vital as a result of we make one another higher,” Ortiz acknowledged. “It’s undoubtedly enjoyable to compete with one another, however I really feel like we at all times need one another to play nicely. Fortunately, I obtained the decision.”
Ortiz, who turns 25 in July, is the oldest among the many many group’s stockpile of infield prospects, and he’s moreover considered the best defensively. Whereas 189 of his 232 begins throughout the minors have come at shortstop, Ortiz might also play second and third base. In February, Orioles govt vp and regular supervisor Mike Elias known as Ortiz a “defensive wizard sort of shortstop.”
“He’s obtained an opportunity to be a particular defender,” Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde acknowledged Thursday. “The best way his fingers work, the best way his ft work, how he can play protection with an incredible quantity of confidence, that’s thrilling, and he’s obtained a big-time vary. It’s enjoyable to observe him, the best way he’s come alongside the final couple of years, and we’re excited to observe him.”
In 16 video video games with the Tides this season, Ortiz hit .359 with 5 doubles, two triples and eight RBIs. Vavra was hitting .231 in his restricted time and carried out 4 positions as a result of the Orioles’ utilityman.
With the Orioles set to face three left-handed starting pitchers over the following three days in Detroit, Ortiz gives them one different right-handed alternative moderately than the left-handed Vavra. He moreover provides insurance coverage protection behind infielders Jorge Mateo, who has dealt with hip discomfort, and Gunnar Henderson, who reopened scrapes on his correct throwing hand in Wednesday’s win over the Boston Crimson Sox nonetheless stayed throughout the sport. Hyde acknowledged the hand was “high-quality,” though Henderson, a left-handed hitter, was not in Thursday’s lineup in direction of Wentz.
Sending down Vavra, who made seven of his eight begins throughout the outfield with one at designated hitter, may also be a sign of the Orioles’ notion outfielder Austin Hays will return rapidly from a bruised correct middle finger suffered on a bunt strive Tuesday. Hays acknowledged he’s accessible to run nonetheless stays a couple of days away from being able to grip a bat.
“Terrin might be again,” Hyde acknowledged. “Vav does cowl us in numerous spots. … He simply didn’t get the at-bats, and as a lot as I don’t need to lose him, I feel it’s vital he goes down and will get some constant at-bats right here for a short while as a result of he’s not an older veteran participant. You need to see guys not simply get stale on the bench up right here. However we expect actually extremely of him, and I cherished his method.”
Ortiz’s glove is his biggest instrument, nonetheless he improved on the plate in 2022 after a midseason adjustment to his hand placement. After hitting .241 with an anemic .267 slugging share in Aberdeen in 2019, Ortiz broke out offensively in 2021 with an .801 OPS between Excessive-A and Double-A. However a torn labrum ended his advertising marketing campaign, and the start to his 2022 season was rocky as he returned from surgical process.
In Bowie, Ortiz was hitting .206 with merely 4 home runs and 56 strikeouts in 64 video video games by June. Over the once more half of the season, though, the prospect crushed the ball in his subsequent 47 Double-A contests, slashing .355/.425/.634 with 11 home runs.
“The bat has come a great distance,” Hyde acknowledged.
Shortly sooner than Henderson was known as as a lot as the principle leagues in late August, Ortiz was promoted to Triple-A. He didn’t decelerate in Norfolk, hitting .346 with 4 home runs, two triples and seven doubles in 26 video video games. Total, he slashed .351/.396/.542 in 42 Triple-A video video games, exhibiting he could also be higher than solely a sturdy defender.
“I really feel like I at all times obtained one thing to show,” Ortiz acknowledged. “Now, I’m at a brand new degree, and I gotta hit right here.”
The Orioles added Ortiz to their 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from being chosen throughout the Rule 5 draft. He spent the first three and a half weeks of spring teaching in enormous league camp, posting an .857 OPS in six video video games sooner than a flooring ball to the top all through apply put him in concussion protocol.
Norby, a second baseman who led all Orioles minor leaguers with 29 homers in 2022, was despatched down this spring similtaneously Ortiz. The 22-year-old opened ultimate season in Excessive-A and finally reached Triple-A. He’s a career .275 minor league hitter with a .485 slugging share.
Westburg, nonetheless, is the infield prospect with basically essentially the most experience in Triple-A. The 24-year-old moreover spent all of spring teaching in fundamental league camp, impressing collectively along with his versatility, consistency and effectivity with a .306 batting widespread and .878 OPS in 57 plate appearances. Westburg, who has vital experience having fun with second, third and shortstop, is a career .277 hitter throughout the minors. In 107 Triple-A video video games over the last two seasons, Westburg has an .886 OPS.
They may get their very personal alternate options rapidly, and it’s unclear how prolonged Ortiz’s will ultimate. Requested whether or not or not Ortiz will keep throughout the majors now that he’s reached them, Hyde acknowledged it was a “wait and see” state of affairs.
“We’re making an attempt to win video games, and so we’re gonna attempt to get one of the best roster we are able to, quick time period, long run,” Hyde acknowledged. “We really feel like Joey’s going to have the ability to presumably assist us this sequence, after which we’ll go from there.”
()