One of the offseason’s largest questions has been answered.
Who would be the first Orioles infield prospect referred to as as much as the majors in 2023? Answer: 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 referred to as him to say he was heading to the majors. The subsequent day, he was within the lineup for the Orioles’ sequence opener towards the Detroit Tigers, batting ninth towards left-hander Joey Wentz and enjoying second base. He stated his girlfriend and fogeys will likely be in attendance at Comerica Park.
Ortiz, the Orioles’ fourth-round draft decide in 2019, started the season as 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 high 100 checklist. But Ortiz was the one one on Baltimore’s 40-man roster, and in order the Orioles sought so as to add one other right-handed bat earlier than a four-game sequence that can see them face left-handed starters within the first three video games, Ortiz was the selection.
“I feel like the competition’s important because we make each other better,” Ortiz stated. “It’s definitely fun to compete with each other, but I feel like we always want each other to play well. Luckily, I got the call.”
Ortiz, who turns 25 in July, is the oldest among the many group’s stockpile of infield prospects, and he’s additionally thought of the most effective defensively. While 189 of his 232 begins within the minors have come at shortstop, Ortiz may also play second and third base. In February, Orioles govt vp and normal supervisor Mike Elias referred to as Ortiz a “defensive wizard kind of shortstop.”
“He’s got a chance to be a special defender,” Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde stated Thursday. “The way his hands work, the way his feet work, how he can play defense with an amazing amount of confidence, that’s exciting, and he’s got a big-time range. It’s fun to watch him, the way he’s come along the last couple of years, and we’re excited to watch him.”
In 16 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 performed 4 positions because the Orioles’ utilityman.
With the Orioles set to face three left-handed beginning pitchers over the subsequent three days in Detroit, Ortiz offers them one other right-handed choice reasonably than the left-handed Vavra. He additionally supplies insurance coverage behind infielders Jorge Mateo, who has handled hip discomfort, and Gunnar Henderson, who reopened scrapes on his proper throwing hand in Wednesday’s win over the Boston Red Sox however stayed within the sport. Hyde stated the hand was “fine,” although Henderson, a left-handed hitter, was not in Thursday’s lineup towards Wentz.
Sending down Vavra, who made seven of his eight begins within the outfield with one at designated hitter, can also be an indication of the Orioles’ perception outfielder Austin Hays will return quickly from a bruised proper center finger suffered on a bunt try Tuesday. Hays stated he’s accessible to run however stays a few days away from having the ability to grip a bat.
“Terrin will be back,” Hyde stated. “Vav does cover us in a lot of spots. … He just didn’t get the at-bats, and as much as I don’t want to lose him, I think it’s important he goes down and gets some consistent at-bats here for a little while because he’s not an older veteran player. You want to see guys not just get stale on the bench up here. But we think really highly of him, and I loved his approach.”
Ortiz’s glove is his greatest instrument, however 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 High-A and Double-A. But a torn labrum ended his marketing campaign, and the begin to his 2022 season was rocky as he returned from surgical procedure.
In Bowie, Ortiz was hitting .206 with simply 4 house runs and 56 strikeouts in 64 video games by June. Over the again half of the season, although, the prospect crushed the ball in his subsequent 47 Double-A contests, slashing .355/.425/.634 with 11 house runs.
“The bat has come a long way,” Hyde stated.
Shortly earlier than Henderson was referred to as as much as the main leagues in late August, Ortiz was promoted to Triple-A. He didn’t decelerate in Norfolk, hitting .346 with 4 house runs, two triples and 7 doubles in 26 video games. Overall, he slashed .351/.396/.542 in 42 Triple-A video games, exhibiting he may be greater than solely a robust defender.
“I feel like I always got something to prove,” Ortiz stated. “Now, I’m at a new level, and I gotta hit here.”
The Orioles added Ortiz to their 40-man roster this offseason to guard him from being chosen within the Rule 5 draft. He spent the primary three and a half weeks of spring coaching in huge league camp, posting an .857 OPS in six video games earlier than a floor ball to the pinnacle throughout 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 final season in High-A and ultimately reached Triple-A. He’s a profession .275 minor league hitter with a .485 slugging share.
Westburg, nevertheless, is the infield prospect with essentially the most expertise in Triple-A. The 24-year-old additionally spent all of spring coaching in main league camp, impressing together with his versatility, consistency and efficiency with a .306 batting common and .878 OPS in 57 plate appearances. Westburg, who has important expertise enjoying second, third and shortstop, is a profession .277 hitter within the minors. In 107 Triple-A video games during the last two seasons, Westburg has an .886 OPS.
They would possibly get their very own alternatives quickly, and it’s unclear how lengthy Ortiz’s will final. Asked whether or not Ortiz will stay within the majors now that he’s reached them, Hyde stated it was a “wait and see” state of affairs.
“We’re trying to win games, and so we’re gonna try to get the best roster we can, short term, long term,” Hyde stated. “We feel like Joey’s going to be able to possibly help us this series, and then we’ll go from there.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com