Welcome back to another chapter of Up-and-Coming Dynasty Players. This week I want to feature a player who started his career in the Baltimore system before being shipped to Milwaukee this offseason as a key piece for the Brewers in a trade. I’m talking about Joey Ortiz.

Ortiz had an outstanding college career at New Mexico State University. In three seasons he slashed .342/.402/.510 with 15 homers, 173 RBI and 35 steals in 170 games. He had really gaudy numbers his junior season as he slashed .422/.474/.697 with eight home runs, 84 RBI and 12 steals.

While outstanding numbers, New Mexico State has a home field that is great for hitters and plays in a conference that isn’t exactly filled with major league quality pitchers. Thus, there were questions about how well Ortiz would do at the next level, leading him to fall to the fourth round before Baltimore selected him in the 2019 draft.

It would take a few years before the Orioles and other teams would know just how good Ortiz is as Covid wiped out the 2020 season and he appeared in only 35 games in 2021 due to a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.

But in 2022 Ortiz showed off his skills at the plate, earning him a promotion to the majors in 2023 and then become a key player in the package that Baltimore sent to Milwaukee for Corbin Burnes ahead of this season.

Let’s look at why Ortiz is an up-and-coming dynasty player.