Joey

Ortiz

Ortiz will open the season as Milwaukee’s starting shortstop in the wake of Brice Turang’s recent shoulder issues and offers realistic double-digit homer and stolen base potential. The 26-year-old former top prospect is an elite defender and has gotten off to a really encouraging start at the dish this spring, batting .412 (14-for-34) with two homers and four steals. He’s unlikely to make the leap to full-fledged fantasy superstardom, but there’s some untapped power upside lurking, if he adds some extra loft to his swing.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy downplayed the severity of the issue, expressing optimism that Turang will be ready for next week’s season opener. He’ll be shut down for a couple days this week for precautionary reasons after struggling to resume throwing on Monday, but it doesn’t sound like he’s in jeopardy of requiring a trip to the injured list. The 25-year-old speedster’s ailing shoulder makes it a virtual lock that he’ll slide over to second base with defensive wizard Joey Ortiz opening the year at shortstop. It’s a developing situation that fantasy managers should continue monitoring closely in the lead up to Opening Day.

Ortiz stole second in the second and then second and third after reaching on a force out in the fourth. It’s interesting to see Ortiz being so aggressive after he was 11-for-17 stealing bases as a rookie last year. He’d definitely be more interesting in fantasy leagues if he aimed for 20+ steals this year.

Attanasio added that the club wants to give prospect Tyler Black a shot at third base along with incumbent Oliver Dunn. His remarks come on the heels of offseason comments from manager Pat Murphy that highlighted Ortiz as the most logical choice to replace Willy Adames. The 26-year-old is a gifted defender and also boasts double-digit homer and steal potential for fantasy purposes. The interesting wrinkle here is Black, who has put up phenomenal numbers at the Triple-A level, but has yet to carve out a permanent role in the big leagues.

The Brewers will have to replace Willy Adames who is set to sign a big contract somewhere else this offseason, and it seems like Ortiz may get the first crack at being the guy there. The 26-year-old came over from the Orioles in the Corbin Burnes trade last off-season and hit .239/.329/.398 in his first full MLB season with 11 home runs and 11 steals in 142 games. He also posted a defensive WAR of 11.3 and an Outs Above Average of 11 at third base. His elite glove will likely make him an impact real-life shortstop, even if he never emerges as more than a deep-league target for fantasy baseball.

Ortiz got the Brew Crew on the board with a two-run single off Jose Quintana in the fourth. That would be all the offense the Brewers would need, but Milwaukee scored four more runs anyway. For fun. Ortiz has had an up-and-down year offensively, but a .240/.331/.400 slash from a rookie is nothing to sneeze at. There’s likely more coming.

It was a nice day for the 26-year-old who had a single, a double, and a triple, Ortiz’s elite defense is keeping him in the lineup and days like this are a sign of what his fantasy value could be as a solid batting average asset with chip-in speed. He figures to get a chance to hold down a starting job in 2025 as well.

Ortiz had a two-run single in the second inning and then an RBI groundout in the fourth. The effort brings him up to 56 RBI in 137 games this season. The 26-year-old has produced tremendous defensive value in his first season in Milwaukee and flashed solid plate discipline and contact skills that have led to a few hot stretches, but his skill set figures to remain more valuable in real-life than in fantasy leagues.

Ortiz was the only Brewer with a runner in scoring position in what was a down game for their offense. He’s had a rough few months, but has picked it up over the last week with a homer, two steals, four runs scored, and three RBI.

The versatile 25-year-old infielder had been sidelined since the beginning of July due to inflammation in his neck. He’ll jump right back into the starting lineup, starting at third base and batting eighth against Jackson Rutledge and the Nationals on Friday evening in Milwaukee.