Being raised in the shadow of a Boston Red Sox great, the pressure isn’t just intense; it’s fierce. Imagine entering Fenway Park as a player trying to forge your own path amid the echoes of “Big Papi” resonating through the stands. Welcome to the reality of D’Angelo Ortiz, son of Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who is grinding his way through the sport. Looking at his journey through the minor leagues, he’s proving he deserves to be there on his own merit.

Recently, former Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post featuring a beautiful moment with D’Angelo. Uehara captioned the post, “Dee… he’s grown so big. Pappy’s son… D’Angelo!! He was drafted by the Red Sox and is doing his best in the minors!! I’m looking forward to seeing him make it to the majors!♡♡” Well, it looks like Uehara wouldn’t miss D’Angelo’s major league performance for the world. The young Ortiz later commented on the post with two adorable emojis—“❤️🙌🏻—and reposted it on his story too.

Walking in the footsteps of his father, D’Angelo was selected by the Red Sox during the 19th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, picked 567th overall. Even though his name already holds significant weight in Boston, he is still devoted to forging his own legacy. In recent years, he has played summer ball with other second-generation players like Manny Ramirez Jr. and Pedro Martinez Jr., making it clear that he’s more than just a legacy pick.

The former Red Sox stars and fans are rooting for him. Now, the curiosity lies in how long it will be before he steps up to the plate at Fenway Park.

Red Sox prospects shine in exhibition opener victory in Mexico

As the Red Sox near the end of spring training, they took a tour to Mexico for a two-game exhibition series against the Sultanes de Monterrey at Estadio Mobil Super. If we take any hints from their performance there, it simply showcases the rising potential of the team.

Marcelo Mayer, the Red Sox’s top prospect, was at the forefront of the team’s recent exhibition game. He delivered a phenomenal performance, going 2-for-4 with five RBIs, including a solo home run and a two-run double. It didn’t come as a shock, as he had an equally remarkable spring training, recording a .357/.419/.536 slash line over 14 Grapefruit League games.

On the other hand, Kristian Campbell also left a lasting impression, solidifying his case for the second base position. David Hamilton delivered multiple hits and extra-base hits, while Richard Fitts showcased his pitching strength by allowing just one earned run over six innings. The bullpen also witnessed a spectacular effort from Aroldis Chapman, who struck out all three batters he faced, with pitches touching up to 101 mph.

The Red Sox will soon head to Arlington, Texas, for the Opening Day at Globe Life Field. And fans have every reason to be excited about the team’s prospects as the regular season is almost here.