Nick Fortes Bio
Nicholas Fortes, known professionally as Nick Fortes, is an American professional baseball catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Miami Marlins and wears jersey number 40 with the Rays. A former fourth-round draft pick, Fortes has built his career on defensive reliability behind the plate and selective offensive contributions since reaching the majors in 2021.
Born and raised in Florida, Fortes developed his game through high school and collegiate competition before turning professional. He is married to his wife Jessica and continues to play at the highest level of North American baseball.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Fortes was born on November 11, 1996, in DeLand, Florida, where he grew up and attended DeLand High School. Coming of age in central Florida gave him year-round access to the game and helped shape his identity as a catcher, a position that demands both physical toughness and a deep understanding of pitching staffs.
Although he went undrafted out of high school, Fortes committed to the University of Mississippi to continue his baseball career. He played college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels, where he developed into one of the program’s most productive catchers and caught the attention of professional scouts with his bat and his glove.
In his junior season at Ole Miss, Fortes hit .319/.435/.519 with 11 home runs and 49 runs batted in, a slash line that confirmed his readiness for professional baseball. He also played collegiate summer baseball for the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders of the Northwoods League in 2017, an experience that later made him the first Dock Spiders alumnus to play in the major leagues.
Path to Professional Baseball
Fortes’s strong junior campaign at Mississippi positioned him as one of the top catching prospects in the 2018 draft class. His combination of plate discipline, contact skills, and defensive leadership behind the plate made him an attractive target for organizations seeking a long-term backstop.
Following the conclusion of his junior season, Fortes was selected by the Miami Marlins in the fourth round, 117th overall, of the 2018 MLB draft. He signed with the organization and began his professional career that summer, embarking on a multi-year climb through the Marlins’ minor league system.
The pathway from draft pick to major leaguer required several seasons of development. Fortes worked his way through short-season affiliates before reaching the upper minors, earning promotions along the way and refining the skills that would eventually earn him a spot on Miami’s big league roster.
Nick Fortes Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Fortes opened his professional career in 2018 by splitting the season between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins, the Batavia Muckdogs, and the Greensboro Grasshoppers. He hit a combined .226/.346/.258 with no home runs and 11 runs batted in, getting his first taste of life as a professional catcher.
In 2019, he advanced to the Jupiter Hammerheads of the High-A Florida State League, where he hit .217/.293/.308 with three home runs and 29 runs batted in. Fortes did not play in a game in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pause that delayed his development but did not derail his trajectory.
Miami Marlins Breakthrough (2021–2025)
Fortes split the 2021 minor league season between the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, hitting a combined .245/.332/.367 with seven home runs and 44 runs batted in. On September 17, 2021, the Marlins selected his contract to the 40-man and active rosters, and he made his major league debut the following day. He finished that debut season with four home runs and seven runs batted in across 14 games.
The 2022 campaign gave Fortes his first signature major league moment. On June 26, 2022, he hit a walk-off home run off of Adam Ottavino of the New York Mets to give Miami a 3–2 victory. Across 72 appearances that year, he batted .230/.304/.392 with nine home runs, 24 runs batted in, and five stolen bases, cementing his place in the Marlins’ plans.
Fortes spent the 2023 season as Miami’s primary catcher, appearing in 108 games and hitting .204/.263/.299 with six home runs, 26 runs batted in, and four stolen bases. He retained starting duties for the 2024 campaign, slashing .227/.259/.318 with four home runs and 29 runs batted in across 110 appearances. In 2025, Fortes split time with Agustín Ramírez behind the plate, hitting .240/.288/.349 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in across 59 games before being traded.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2025–Present)
On July 28, 2025, Fortes was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league outfielder Matthew Etzel. The move gave him a fresh opportunity within a new organization and placed him behind the plate for an American League contender.
He made 38 appearances down the stretch for Tampa Bay, slashing .213/.307/.348 with three home runs, 11 runs batted in, and one stolen base. Through June 20, 2026, Fortes had compiled a .228 career batting average to go with 29 home runs and 121 runs batted in across his major league tenure, with his role in Tampa Bay continuing to grow.
Driving Style and Strengths
Fortes is regarded as a steady defensive catcher who handles pitching staffs with poise and earns the trust of his pitchers. His calling of the game and framing work have been central to his value, while his offensive profile features gap power and the ability to deliver timely extra-base hits when games tighten late.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fortes’s walk-off home run off Adam Ottavino in June 2022 stands as one of the defining moments of his early career and announced his arrival as a clutch performer for the Marlins. Becoming the first Fond du Lac Dock Spiders alumnus to reach the major leagues also represents a meaningful milestone in his career path.
Nick Fortes Career Wins
Across his time in the major leagues, Nicholas Fortes has contributed to a number of team victories through his work behind the plate and his bat. While personal win totals vary by source and depend on how wins are credited to catchers, his body of work with the Marlins and Rays reflects a durable everyday backstop.
Miami Marlins Highlights
During his Marlins tenure, Fortes appeared in more than 360 games and served as Miami’s primary catcher across multiple seasons. His walk-off homer against the Mets in 2022 and his role in guiding young pitching staffs highlighted his value to the franchise before the team transitioned toward younger options behind the plate.
Tampa Bay Rays Highlights
Since joining the Rays in the middle of the 2025 season, Fortes has supplied catching depth and veteran leadership during the stretch run. His first extended stretch in Tampa Bay produced three home runs and 11 runs batted in across 38 games, setting the stage for an expanded role in the seasons that followed.
Nick Fortes Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Nicholas Fortes was raised in DeLand, Florida, and has built his adult life alongside his wife Jessica. The couple’s relationship has been a steady presence throughout his professional career, with Fortes publicly acknowledging Jessica’s support as he moved through the minor leagues and into the major leagues.
Personal Life
Fortes and Jessica were married in November 2020 and later divorced in late 2022. He remarried in November 2025, with his personal life continuing to evolve alongside his baseball career. Beyond family, Fortes remains connected to his hometown of DeLand and to the Ole Miss baseball community that helped launch his professional path.
2025 Season Performance
Nick Fortes’s 2025 season was defined by a midyear change of scenery. He opened the year in Miami, sharing catching duties with Agustín Ramírez and posting a .240/.288/.349 slash line with two home runs and 10 runs batted in across 59 games. The Marlins then pivoted toward their younger options, opening the door for a trade.
On July 28, 2025, Fortes was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league outfielder Matthew Etzel. The trade gave him a clearer path to playing time and a fresh start with an organization known for its pitching development, a fit that suited his strengths as a defensive catcher.
Down the stretch in Tampa Bay, Fortes appeared in 38 games and slashed .213/.307/.348 with three home runs, 11 runs batted in, and one stolen base. His overall 2025 output, combined with his strong defensive reputation, positioned him as a trusted veteran presence for the Rays heading into the next chapter of his major league career.