GOOD NEWS: Red Sox Fans Are Falling in Love With D’Angelo Ortiz — The Name Is Familiar, But the Drive Is All His Own
By [Your Name] | The Athletic Style
When your father is David Ortiz, the bar isn’t just high—it’s iconic. But D’Angelo Ortiz, 19, isn’t just carrying the weight of his father’s legacy in the Red Sox system. He’s building something of his own. And if the early signs are any indication, Boston may soon witness the rise of a new Ortiz—with a voice, swing, and presence all his own.
Signed by the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Ortiz Jr. didn’t arrive in the minors with the hype that typically surrounds the sons of legends. There were no headline-grabbing bonuses, no viral YouTube clips of monster home runs. What there was—and continues to be—is a raw hunger to prove he belongs.
“I know who my dad is. But that doesn’t get me a walk, a hit, or a job in this game,” D’Angelo said quietly after a recent workout with the Single-A Salem Red Sox. “If anything, it makes the grind harder. People expect a highlight every at-bat. I’m just trying to earn my spot.”
And he might be doing just that. Through the first 60 games of the season, Ortiz is slashing .284/.356/.401 with 5 home runs and 32 RBIs. He’s not blowing up the stat sheets yet, but scouts are noticing. “He’s got plate discipline, sneaky power, and most importantly, he’s coachable,” said one AL scout. “No one’s giving him anything because of his last name. He’s working for it.”
That work ethic stems from a childhood in the shadows of Fenway, but far from its red carpet. D’Angelo, now a lean 6-foot-2, remembers cleaning cleats and sitting in the video room as his dad prepped for postseason battles. “He made me see the game as a job, not just a dream,” he recalled. “If I wanted to be part of it, I had to respect the work.”
The younger Ortiz is quick to credit the Red Sox organization for keeping expectations realistic. “They never treated me like ‘Big Papi Jr.,’” he laughs. “Just a kid with a glove and a shot.”
His teammates, too, have embraced him as one of their own. “He’s just D’Lo to us,” said fellow prospect Miguel Bleis. “Always the first one at drills, always lifting us up when we’re down.”
Yet, there’s no denying the magnetic pull of his last name. Every road game brings a new wave of fans hoping to glimpse “Papi’s kid.” After a recent away series in Wilmington, Delaware, the entire visiting section lined up for autographs postgame. Ortiz stayed. For 45 minutes.
“That’s who he is,” said Red Sox minor league manager Luke Montz. “He honors his father, but he doesn’t try to become him. That’s the most impressive part.”
Still, the question looms: Could D’Angelo actually make it to the bigs?
“I think it’s possible,” said Sox player development director Brian Abraham. “We don’t project him as a power-first corner bat like his dad. But he has the IQ, versatility, and character to be a major league contributor.”
And he’s already impacting lives. Local Boston middle school programs have invited Ortiz to speak about mental health and resilience. He’s partnered with the Red Sox Foundation’s youth initiatives. Fans have taken notice not just of his game, but his grace.
Reddit forums light up after every multi-hit performance. TikToks of his smooth lefty swing go viral. “He’s like watching a softer version of his dad. Same focus, same fire, but his own flow,” one fan wrote.
For Ortiz Sr., watching his son chase the dream is both joyful and humbling. “I told him, don’t be me. Be D’Angelo. Write your own story,” David said in a recent NESN interview. “And he is.”
As the Red Sox continue a season of ups and downs at the major league level, there’s something poetic about the seeds being planted down in the farm.
Maybe D’Angelo Ortiz won’t be the next Big Papi. Maybe he’ll be something entirely different. Something new. Something Boston can believe in again.
And that’s more than enough.