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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Joey Ortiz experienced a significant sophomore slump in 2025, struggling to replicate the offensive production from his promising rookie campaign. After posting a 105 wRC+ in 2024, Ortiz saw his offensive metrics crater as he slashed just .230/.276/.317 with seven home runs and 45 RBI across 149 games. His average exit velocity of 84.9 mph was among the lowest in the league for qualified hitters, and a sharp decline in his walk rate further limited his utility at the bottom of the order. Despite these struggles, his elite glove remained a fixture in the Milwaukee lineup. He finished the year tied for fourth among all major league shortstops in Statcast fielding run value, proving that his defensive floor is high enough to keep him on the field even when the bat is cold.

As he prepares for the 2026 season, Ortiz enters spring training as the projected starting shortstop in a revamped Brewers infield. While his offensive floor is low, projection models like Steamer and ZiPS anticipate a modest rebound toward a .245 average with double-digit home run and stolen base potential. His late-season performance offered a glimmer of hope, as he batted .294 in the second half before a minor hamstring strain sidelined him for a portion of September. From a fantasy perspective, Ortiz is a deep-league middle infield option or a late-round dart throw in standard formats. Managers are betting on his elite defense providing job security while hoping his second-half surge in 2025 signals a return to the league-average offensive production he displayed as a rookie.