Red Sox Promote Son Of Franchise Legend David Ortiz

Making the jump from the Florida Complex League to Single-A is enough of a challenge for most young players trying to carve out a Major League Baseball career, and it can be even more difficult when your father is considered one of the greatest to ever play the game.

That’s especially true for Boston Red Sox 2024 19th-round draft selection D’Angelo Ortiz. As the son of Hall of Fame slugger and three-time World Series champion David Ortiz, the 21-year-old made his professional debut earlier this year with name recognition and unfair expectations following him wherever he goes.

The Red Sox promoted Ortiz to Single-A Salem on Wednesday after the right-handed hitting third baseman produced a batting average of .273 in 154 at-bats with Boston’s rookie-level affiliate this season.

The younger Ortiz has certainly impressed through his first 51 games of professional baseball, collecting 42 hits and 18 RBIs, and also stealing 12 bases along the way. While not a feared power-hitting slugger like his dad, Ortiz has used his speed and athleticism to leg out three doubles and one triple so far this season. Listed at 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, his power could develop more as he continues to develop in the Red Sox minor league system.

The Red Sox drafted him in the 19th round with the 567th pick last summer out of Miami-Dade Community College after previously generating local headlines when he played summer baseball for the Brocton Rox in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England alongside the sons of Red Sox legends Pedro Martínez and Manny Ramírez.

D’Angelo wrote a letter to David back in 2022, which helped give insight into their relationship.