Ortiz Hits His Way Into Orioles’ Plans
A breakout two years in the making finally came true this summer.
Shortstop Joey Ortiz, drafted in the fourth round in 2019, earned plaudits for his defense coming out of New Mexico State but faced questions about his bat.
The 24-year-old answered those questions emphatically in the second half.
A midseason adjustment at Double-A Bowie erased a frustrating first half, and Ortiz kept hitting after moving to Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 30.
From July 1 until the end of the season, Ortiz hit .352/.416/.610 at both levels and led the minor leagues with 101 hits, 68 runs and 175 total bases. His 1.026 OPS ranked seventh in that time.
Orioles player development staff hinted at his emergence during the pandemic, when Ortiz added 20 pounds of muscle and retooled his swing with a line-drive focus. But a shoulder injury limited him to 35 games in 2021.
Ortiz was back in time for Opening Day this year, but he hit too many ground balls to be productive in the first half.
Orioles hitting coordinator Cody Asche and Bowie hitting coach Branden Becker suggested he change his hand placement, which allowed him to cover more of the strike zone and be in position to drive the ball in the air more frequently.
That along with more focused swing decisions helped Ortiz take off. He now projects to contribute in Baltimore next season after hitting .284/.349/.477 with 19 home runs plus 35 doubles in 137 games.
He showed advanced bat-to-ball skills with 50 walks and 98 strikeouts as well as the versatility to handle any infield spot.
“He had a really good year, so he’s another guy who’s now on the radar, big time, with a special glove,” Norfolk manager Buck Britton said.
“And you’re looking at a guy who maybe hits 15, 20 homers in the big leagues and he plays an elite shortstop, an elite second—wherever they put him.”
—JON MEOLI
Hickey Receives Crash Course In Catching
A consensus formed around Florida catcher Nathan Hickey in the 2021 daft.
His lefthanded bat should play. His ability to stick behind the plate was a question.
The doubts annoyed Hickey.
Certainly, he was aware that his offense in college had advanced more quickly than his defense. But he only started catching in Gainesville—he also appeared in a few games at third base and first base—and felt that his opportunity to improve behind the plate was limited given that the pitches were being called from the bench.
After the Red Sox drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $1 million, Hickey was eager to get to work.
“I learned more things about catching in one day (after signing) with Boston than I ever did at Florida,” Hickey said. “Right when I got there, (the Red Sox) said, ‘We’re really going to harp on
