Joey Ortiz Bio
Joseph Anthony Ortiz (born July 14, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder who plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers. A middle-infield prospect who came up through the Baltimore Orioles organization, Ortiz made his MLB debut in 2023 and became a regular contributor the following season. He bats and throws right-handed and has been described as a contact-oriented defender with emerging power.
After starring at New Mexico State University, Ortiz was drafted by Baltimore in 2019 and steadily climbed the minor league ladder. He was traded to Milwaukee in February 2024 as part of the deal that sent ace Corbin Burnes to Baltimore, and he has since grown into an everyday role at shortstop. Ortiz was also selected to represent Mexico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Early Life and Background
Ortiz grew up in Southern California and attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, where he played varsity baseball. As a senior in 2016, he batted .417 and added six triples, drawing local attention as a skilled middle-infielder. Despite that production, he went unselected in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and chose to continue his playing career at the college level.
He enrolled at New Mexico State University to play for the New Mexico State Aggies. As a freshman in 2017, he appeared in 55 games and hit .306 with 14 extra-base hits and 35 runs batted in (RBIs), establishing himself as a reliable everyday player. He continued to develop in 2018, batting .289 with seven home runs, 54 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases across 60 games, and he also played summer ball that year for the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League.
Path to Baseball
Ortiz broke out during his junior season at New Mexico State in 2019. He played 55 games and slashed .422/.500/whatever with eight home runs, 84 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and 25 doubles, finishing as one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate shortstop. His combination of average, power, and run production pushed him into draft consideration after his third year of college ball.
That summer, the Baltimore Orioles selected him in the fourth round with the 108th overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization and reported to short-season Aberdeen, beginning a four-year march through the minor leagues that included time at Aberdeen, Bowie, and Norfolk before he reached the majors.
Joey Ortiz Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Ortiz made his professional debut in 2019 with the Aberdeen IronBirds, batting .241 with one home run and 17 RBIs over 56 games. He did not appear in a game in 2020 after the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in 2021 and split the year between Aberdeen and the Bowie Baysox, hitting a combined .265 with four home runs and 17 RBIs in 35 games while dealing with a shoulder injury that limited his playing time.
Healthy again in 2022, Ortiz opened the year at Bowie and was promoted late in August to the Norfolk Tides. Across 137 games between the two affiliates, he slashed .284/.349/.477 with 19 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 35 doubles, showing the on-base skills and pop that had defined his college career. On November 15, 2022, Baltimore added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Baltimore Orioles Debut (2023)
Ortiz began 2023 with Triple-A Norfolk and was promoted to the majors for the first time on April 27, 2023. At the time of his call-up, he was hitting .359/.389/.500 with eight RBIs in the minors. He went back and forth between Baltimore and Norfolk three times during the year and spent the final three months of the season in Triple-A.
In 15 games with the Orioles during his rookie campaign, Ortiz batted .212/.206/.242 with no home runs and eight RBIs. Over 88 games with Norfolk, he hit .321 with nine home runs and 58 RBIs, reinforcing that his bat was ready for another chance at the top level.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2024–Present)
On February 1, 2024, the Orioles traded Ortiz and pitcher DL Hall to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-hander Corbin Burnes. Ortiz was reportedly part of several trade discussions during the winter, as Baltimore had a surplus of young infielders. He made the Brewers’ Opening Day roster out of spring training and initially started at second base before settling in at third base in a timeshare with fellow rookie Oliver Dunn. When Dunn was optioned to the minors on May 15, Ortiz took over the starting job.
He was named National League Rookie of the Month in May 2024 and finished his rookie year playing 142 games, hitting .239 with 11 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 25 doubles. In 2025, after Willy Adames departed for the San Francisco Giants, Ortiz became the Brewers’ primary shortstop, appearing in 149 games and batting .230 with seven home runs, 45 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. Through June 20, 2026, his major league totals included a .230 batting average, 19 home runs, and 123 RBIs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ortiz is valued for his smooth defensive actions at both second and short, his dependable glove, and a contact-first offensive approach that puts the ball in play. He has shown the ability to handle a utility role as well as an everyday job, and his work ethic and preparation have been credited by Brewers coaches as he transitioned between positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
His selection as National League Rookie of the Month in May 2024 was the clearest early signal of his arrival as a big-league regular. He was also part of the 2024 headline trade that reshaped both the Brewers’ and Orioles’ rotations and infields, and he was selected to represent Mexico at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Joey Ortiz Career Wins
As a middle infielder, Ortiz’s win totals are measured in defensive highlights, on-base streaks, and individual awards rather than pitcher-style victories. His headline accomplishment is the 2024 National League Rookie of the Month honor, awarded after a strong May in which he locked down the Brewers’ starting job.
Brewers Highlights
Ortiz’s most prominent win came on May 15, 2024, when the team committed to him as the everyday third baseman. He went on to play 142 games that season, pacing the Brewers’ infield while posting 11 home runs and 25 doubles, then slid over to shortstop in 2025 for a full 149-game workload as the club’s primary up-the-middle defender.
Other Wins & Performances
At New Mexico State, Ortiz was a 2019 Brooks Wallace Award finalist after one of the most productive seasons in program history, and he helped the Willmar Stingers compete in the Northwoods League in 2018. His selection to the 2026 World Baseball Classic roster added an international stage to a resume built on steady minor league production.
Joey Ortiz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Ortiz’s parents and siblings are limited. He is of Mexican heritage, which paved the way for his selection to Mexico’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Personal Life
Ortiz married his wife, Iliana, in January 2025. The couple has kept much of their personal life out of the public eye, with Iliana occasionally appearing on Ortiz’s social media channels as he has settled into life in the Midwest.
2025 Season Performance
Ortiz entered 2025 as the Brewers’ starting shortstop following the departure of Willy Adames. He appeared in 149 games and batted .230 with seven home runs, 45 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases, providing steady defense up the middle while adjusting to a new everyday role. Manager Pat Murphy and the Brewers’ staff leaned on his contact approach and baserunning instincts, with Ortiz slotting into the middle of the order on most nights.
The 2025 campaign was less about splashy offensive numbers and more about proving he could handle the everyday shortstop job for a contender. He finished with 14 stolen bases, signaling increased aggressiveness on the basepaths, and his defensive metrics at short were a key reason the Brewers remained comfortable moving on from Adames. Entering 2026, Ortiz remains a building block for the franchise, with his invitation to the 2026 World Baseball Classic serving as an international showcase of how far he has come since being a fourth-round pick out of New Mexico State.
