Talent will shine whether or not it is a product of nepotism. While nepotism is well evident in the MLB circuit, it doesn’t mean it’s bad all the time. Take the example of Barry Bonds, who created his legacy and overtook his father, Bobby Bonds. A new addition to this list might be D’Angelo Ortiz, son of the legend David Ortiz. Yes, the Big Papi Jr. is in the field and swinging his bat in the ongoing spring season for the Red Sox. As expected, there are rumors about how Ortiz Jr. got the backing of his father in the draft. So, what did he have to prove the critics wrong? 

Well, Ortiz Jr. is 20 now and got selected in the 19th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. So, he just got a start and had a long way to go before hitting the biggest stage. For the Unversed, D’Angelo Ortiz was ranked 567th overall in the draft. While million-dollar contracts were signed by the first-round picks, he was paid only $150,000. In professional baseball, it’s a small sum. While the scouts haven’t rated him as a top prospect till now, Ortiz Jr. has impressed the coaches with his work ethic. 

Now that Ortiz Jr. seems to be trailing behind growth and not the legacy of his last name, he surely has things to prove. “The least that I could do is show how serious I take this. I just want to show that taking a chance on me is not a thing that is because of the name or anything like that,” Ortiz Jr. said on being selected by the Red Sox. While the Red Sox want their three-year playoff drought to come to an end, Ortiz Jr. can be their future weapon, leading the charge. 

The Red Sox’s plan with D’Angelo Ortiz

D’Angelo Ortiz has yet to play in a spring game. So, he is unlikely to be seen in the MLB for now. Notwithstanding the excitement around D’Angelo, difficulties still lie ahead. Given his low draft selection, he will likely need a lot of time and improvement to make the major league roster. However, what about the Red Sox’s chance this year to end their playoff drought? Last year’s elimination was a close call for the Red Sox, ending with an 81-81 record and just behind 5 games of the AL wild card. 

With the addition of Walker Buehler and Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox’ starting rotation is noticeably superior to that of the previous season. However, the injuries of Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are shuffling the pitching rotation of the team. Here, the service from Aroldis Chapman and Liam Hendricks might come in handy. However, is it enough for the team to shine this year? Time is the only answer here. Apart from this, prospects like D’Angelo Ortiz, if leveraged on their full potential, are going to be the weapon for the future. 

Hopefully, the Red Sox’s future will be in safe hands, considering their strong supply of rookies. Ortiz Jr. will be an interesting prospect to watch out for if he can stay true to his father’s legacy. What do you think about D’Angelo Ortiz’s potential? Share your views with us below.