Nationals' Abimelec Ortiz: Headed back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Ortiz was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
Ortiz was called up to the big-league roster and made his major-league debut Sunday, going 1-for-2 with a double before he was replaced by pinch-hitter Curtis Mead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ortiz will now head back to Rochester and will await his next chance with the Nationals.
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Nationals' Abimelec Ortiz: Called up, starting Sunday
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Ortiz from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday. He'll start at designated hitter and bat third in the series finale against the Yankees.
Heading into spring training, Ortiz looked like he had a chance to break camp with the big club, but he ended up spending the first three-plus months of the season at Rochester. The 24-year-old will now see his first action with the Nationals in the final game before the All-Star break, earning his chance after slashing .239/.336/.496 with 17 home runs across 304 plate appearances at Triple-A. Ortiz could end up settling into the strong side of a platoon at DH if the Nationals are willing to move Jacob Young into a fourth outfielder role and commit to Dylan Crews as their primary option in center field.
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Nationals' Abimelec Ortiz: Unlikely to get call before ASB
Rotowire
Ortiz isn't expected to get promoted to the Nationals' big-league roster before at least the All-Star break, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
Acquired from the Rangers this offseason as part of the MacKenzie Gore trade, Ortiz is tearing up Triple-A right now, hitting safely in 10 straight games with a .381/.438/.952 slash line, seven homers and 23 RBI over that stretch. The Nationals could use some left-handed power on their bench, but they prefer to let the 24-year-old first baseman continue to get regular playing time rather than bringing him up in a reserve role.
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Nationals' Abimelec Ortiz: Powering up at Triple-A
Rotowire
Ortiz has hit safely in seven straight games for Triple-A Rochester, batting .333 (10-for-30) with seven home runs and 20 RBI during that stretch.
The 24-year-old first baseman is decimating the International League to close out May as he turns things around following a sluggish start to the season. At the end of April, Ortiz carried a .231/.375/.352 slash line with just one homer in 27 games. If he keeps swinging a hot bat, he could slug his way into the Nationals' 1B/DH picture over the summer.
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Nationals' Abimelec Ortiz: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Nationals optioned Ortiz to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
Ortiz was part of the haul the Nationals received from the Rangers in the MacKenzie Gore trade over the winter. The 24-year-old Ortiz will have to wait to make his MLB debut. He slashed .257/.356/.479 with 25 home runs, 89 RBI and 85 runs scored across 130 games at Double-A and Triple-A last season but struggled during spring training, hitting .136 with a .478 OPS across 27 trips to the plate.
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Rangers' Abimelec Ortiz: Power, Ks at Triple-A
Rotowire
Ortiz is slashing .269/.370/.538 with six home runs and a 28.3 percent strikeout rate in 23 games for Triple-A Round Rock.
The lefty slugger's production has been 20 percent better than the average Pacific Coast League hitter in his first taste of the highest level of the minors. Ortiz, 23, repeated Double-A this year and slashed .247/.343/.444 with 16 home runs and a 22.3 percent strikeout rate in 89 games for Frisco before getting promoted to the Express on Aug. 5. He has started seven games in right field and 15 games at first base since getting to Triple-A. Texas will need to add Ortiz to the 40-man roster this offseason or leave him exposed to the Rule 5 draft.
