Video: What's Wrong With Joey Ortiz?

[Ryan Wentland]

Joey Ortiz hasn’t found his swing yet this season, but given his profile and the Brewers’ youth movement, this slow start might be more expected than it seems. Joey Ortiz’s first month as the Brewers’ starting shortstop hasn’t gone how anyone hoped. He’s batting under .200, hasn’t shown any power, and the strikeouts are piling up. But if you’ve followed his track record, this isn’t totally unexpected. Ortiz was always known more for his glove than his bat, and stepping into Willy Adames’ shoes, while carrying the weight of being the return for Corbin Burnes, is no small task. The defense is there, and that’s kept him in the lineup. The Brewers are clearly committed to giving their young guys a shot, and Ortiz still fits that long-term vision. Fans are right to be frustrated, but it’s early.

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