The MLB Draft is an opportunity for prospects to find their future homes. For some, those locations may be far away and unlike anything they have ever experienced before. But for the Boston Red Sox’s 19th-round draft choice, those words couldn’t be further from the truth. Boston looked from within and drafted the son of a Red Sox legend toward the end of the 2024 MLB Draft. D’Angelo Ortiz, son of former longtime Boston slugger David Ortiz, is officially a member of the Red Sox organization with the late-round draft selection.
The @RedSox draft D’Angelo Ortiz, the son of David Ortiz! #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/RgzmzJM97U
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2024
Red Sox Draft David Ortiz’s Son In 2024 MLB Draft
D’Angelo Ortiz, unlike his father, will begin his professional baseball career in the Boston Red Sox system. The corner infielder appeared in 48 games at Miami Dade College this year. He hit for contact, not power like his dad, ending with a strong .328 average. Ortiz hit one home run and recorded 38 RBI. He made the move to Miami Dade, which competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association, after attending high school at Westminster Christian School in Miami, Florida.
Red Sox have drafted D’Angelo Ortiz in the 19th round.
David Ortiz’s son.
He’s going to have a lot of people rooting for him. pic.twitter.com/mmK7XzB4eN
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) July 16, 2024
Outside of his JuCo season, D’Angelo also played for two campaigns with the Brockton Rox of the Future Collegiate Baseball League. Playing with the sons of Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Keith Foulke, and Gary Sheffield, Ortiz batted .325 for the Rox. The right-handed hitter was selected with Boston’s penultimate pick in this year’s draft. Ortiz was one of 18 players that the Red Sox elected to take out of a college, and not high school.
David Ortiz’s Legacy Lives On In Red Sox Organization
David Ortiz himself left quite the legacy in Boston. After beginning his career with the Minnesota Twins, he moved to the Red Sox before the 2003 season. In 14 campaigns with Boston, Ortiz was a ten-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger, led the league in RBI three times (including his final season), and won three World Series titles (2004, 2007, 2013). He hit 541 home runs in his career, 483 coming with the Red Sox. His 2016 season was one of the greatest final seasons in MLB history. Ortiz hit .315 with 38 homers, 127 RBI, 79 runs, and had an OPS of 1.021 in 151 contests.
David Ortiz in his final season at age 40
.315 BA
.401 OBP
164 OPS+
.620 Slugging%*
1.021 OPS*
48 doubles*
38 home runs
127 RBI’s*
15 intentional walks*
80 walks to just 86 strike outs*Led MLB
Greatest final season of all time? I think so! pic.twitter.com/dfcWxc45te
— Boston Sports Enjoyer (@DeversEnjoyer) April 22, 2023
Ortiz currently ranks 17th all-time in homers, just 14 behind former teammate Manny Ramirez. He also sits 12th in doubles and top-25 in total RBI. Ortiz was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. He secured nearly 78% of the vote en route to his entrance into Cooperstown. Ortiz currently resides in Florida with his wife, Tiffany, and their four children.
Photo Credit: © Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise / USA TODAY NETWORK
