The phrases first crept into the Joey Ortiz scouting stories when the Orioles infield prospect was drafted. “Glove-only,” they mentioned. Or, in some situations, stories used a lighter diction, describing Ortiz as a “glove-first” shortstop.
Either description irks Ortiz.
He understands the basis trigger, as a result of Ortiz is a high-level defender at shortstop, third base and second base. He solely managed three extra-base hits with Low-A Aberdeen after the draft. And earlier than that, he performed school baseball at New Mexico State, which has a house area with a popularity for being hitter pleasant.
But from the day Baltimore chosen Ortiz within the fourth spherical of the 2019 draft, the Garden Grove, California, native has made it his mission to banish these phrases from the lexicon of onlookers, growing himself as an all-around infielder worthy of consideration on the plate in addition to the sphere.
With his addition to the Orioles’ 40-man roster Tuesday, Ortiz is a step nearer to realizing that dream on the highest stage. He’s a part of a crowded Baltimore infield, one boasting a glut of prospects at shortstop. And whereas Ortiz readily admits his defensive work helps him stand out from the pack, he’s fast to guarantee anybody listening that he’s greater than succesful in different areas of the sport.
Soon, Ortiz hopes, labels akin to “glove-only” might be a factor of his previous.
“It’s always something to fuel the fire, kind of a chip on the shoulder,” Ortiz mentioned Thursday throughout a video name. “Ever since I got drafted, I wanted to make it a point that I could hit, and hit with the pros.”
His first introduction wasn’t very best. As a 20-year-old with the IronBirds, Ortiz completed with a slugging proportion (.267) simply 26 factors above his batting common (.241). Ortiz singled 44 occasions, doubled twice and hit one house run — the sort of numbers that solely bolstered the phrases he wished to expel.
It took an alteration on the plate this season for Ortiz to completely present his potential. He hit .269 for Double-A Bowie earlier than a late-season promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, and that’s the place his efficiency reached one other stage altogether.
Ortiz broke out in his ultimate 26 video games, hitting .346 with a .967 OPS. His 4 house runs with the Tides added to his 15 for the Baysox, which propelled his mixed slugging proportion to a career-high .477. But Ortiz wasn’t as stunned by the breakout in that division.
“I always felt I was strong enough to have the kind of power numbers that came about this year,” Ortiz mentioned, however he was hitting to many groundouts. A shift in his fingers’ beginning place allowed Ortiz “to get into the right position for that power to come out,” enhancing his path by way of the zone and rising his launch angle — and enhancing his energy manufacturing.
“It was just that little mechanical tweak that we had this year that brought that out for me,” Ortiz mentioned.
The enchancment on the plate has propelled Ortiz right into a throng of gamers vying for infield enjoying time. Gunnar Henderson already arrived in Baltimore and impressed in his 34 video games, enjoying primarily at third. There’s shortstop Jordan Westburg, who earned the Orioles’ Minor League Player of the Year award. Terrin Vavra made his debut within the majors and proved succesful — if not standout.
Then there’s the incumbents, together with Gold Glove Award winner Ramón Urías and shortstop Jorge Mateo. And as free company opens, a ripe shortstop market that features Carlos Correa and Trea Turner might tempt Baltimore’s entrance workplace.
But Ortiz is firmly within the combine, added to the 40-man roster to guard him from the Rule 5 draft. So when spring coaching arrives, Ortiz is intent on displaying all he believes he’s able to — particularly dispelling the labels which have adopted him for the reason that draft.
“When I do get the opportunity, everything will be able to come into play and I won’t be just a ‘glove-first’ shortstop or limited to one thing,” Ortiz mentioned. “I want to be able to do everything.”
Another 40-man transfer
The Orioles freed a spot on their 40-man roster Thursday night time by outrighting catcher Mark Kolozsvary to Triple-A Norfolk. The transfer additionally leaves Adley Rutschman because the lone backstop on the roster. The 40-man roster is at 38 gamers.
Kolozsvary joins Cam Gallagher and Anthony Bemboom as catchers who’ve been faraway from the 40-man roster this month. The 27-year-old made his main league debut with the Cincinnati Reds this season, showing in 10 video games.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com