The Brewers have reason to consider a change at shortstop given Joey Ortiz’s poor performance this season, but is there reason to believe he’ll turn it around in the second half?
With the trade deadline on the horizon, it’s fair to ask if the Brewers could benefit from a change at shortstop. His .589 OPS this season is the third-worst mark in the majors among qualified hitters. He’s making worse contact this year and walking less often. But his recent hot streak might show a revitalized profile that
promises improved performance, if he can maintain this level of improvement.
Since July 11, Ortiz has hit .333 with a 132 wRC+ over 31 plate appearances. That’s a small sample size, but fitting in with the Brewers’ recent run of success, it’s a huge opportunity for the Brewers to show their belief in Ortiz and let him finish off the season with an everyday role.
Joey Ortiz is playing out of his mind of late https://t.co/FnhORy08tU pic.twitter.com/U3vX3d4iks
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 28, 2025
Hypothetically the team could bring in a player like Eugenio Suarez, slide Brice Turang over to shortstop, and start Caleb Durbin at second base. But Ortiz is still one of the best defensive players in the league, and if his bat is coming alive, he could make good on the promise he showed in his first season as a Brewer.
Ortiz has displayed incredible contact ability, but he has yet to convert that into hard-hit balls. His strikeout rate of 16.1%, coupled with his 95.2% zone-contact rate, is exemplary of his underlying talent. If there’s more to come from Ortiz, there are few players who match his consistent ability to make contact. That could lead to a breakout featuring more power, more line drives, and better outcomes across the board.
The season has been a slog for Ortiz but affording him some patience has paid off. His performance has continually improved, even if it’s been slow-going. This graph shows his 15-game rolling average for wOBA and hard-hit rate.
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Ortiz already supplies a baseline of performance simply from his impressive glovework. If he stays course, we might see an output similar to last season in which he posted a 105 wRC+. He might not be an elite power hitter anytime soon, but recently, things are pointing up for Ortiz. If he can even drag his performance back to league-average with the bat, he’ll be a valuable player down the stretch. It has required a hefty dose of patience, but the waiting might be coming to an end to see Ortiz as an important piece of the lineup once again.
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