Junior Ortiz
Born: 10/24/1959 in Humacao, P.R.
MLB Debut: 1982-09-20 | Final Game: 1994-08-08
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 174 lbs
Full name: Adalberto Ortiz
Biography
Junior Ortiz was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1982 until his retirement in 1994. Born in 1959, Ortiz played primarily as a position player during his career, which spanned over a decade. He appeared in a total of 749 games, showcasing his versatility and durability on the field. Throughout his time in the league, he recorded 484 hits, contributing to a career batting average of .256. Ortiz was known for his solid defensive skills and was a reliable presence behind the plate, earning respect from pitchers and teammates alike.
Despite modest offensive numbers, Ortiz's career totals included 5 home runs and 186 RBIs, reflecting his ability to contribute in critical situations. He also demonstrated speed on the bases, finishing his career with 8 stolen bases. Ortiz played during a transformative period in baseball, navigating the game through the late 1980s and early 1990s, an era marked by increased power hitting and changing offensive strategies. His commitment to the game and his contributions to his teams have secured his place in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 749 | 1894 | 142 | 484 | 71 | 4 | 5 | 186 | 8 | 121 | 222 | 0.256 | 0.305 | 0.305 | 0.610 | -4733.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | PIT | NL | 7 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1983 | NYN | NL | 68 | 185 | 10 | 47 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 0.254 | -744.0 |
| 1983 | PIT | NL | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.125 | -744.0 |
| 1984 | NYN | NL | 40 | 91 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 0.198 | -539.6 |
| 1985 | PIT | NL | 23 | 72 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 0.292 | -52.8 |
| 1986 | PIT | NL | 49 | 110 | 11 | 37 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 0.336 | 146.4 |
| 1987 | PIT | NL | 75 | 192 | 16 | 52 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 15 | 23 | 0.271 | -393.9 |
| 1988 | PIT | NL | 49 | 118 | 8 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0.280 | 66.5 |
| 1989 | PIT | NL | 91 | 230 | 16 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 2 | 20 | 20 | 0.217 | -856.3 |
| 1990 | MIN | AL | 71 | 170 | 18 | 57 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 12 | 16 | 0.335 | 305.4 |
| 1991 | MIN | AL | 61 | 134 | 9 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 0.209 | -470.6 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | 86 | 244 | 20 | 61 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 12 | 23 | 0.250 | -733.6 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | 95 | 249 | 19 | 55 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 11 | 26 | 0.221 | -1255.7 |
| 1994 | TEX | AL | 29 | 76 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0.276 | -205.4 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.125 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | ALCS | MIN | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1991 | WS | MIN | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.200 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 702 | 543 | 2934 | 324 | 45 | 40 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | PIT | C | 7 | 4 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | NYN | C | 67 | 56 | 273 | 31 | 11 | 2 |
| 1983 | PIT | C | 4 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | NYN | C | 32 | 23 | 136 | 13 | 3 | 3 |
| 1985 | PIT | C | 23 | 20 | 115 | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| 1986 | PIT | C | 36 | 28 | 165 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| 1987 | PIT | C | 72 | 55 | 313 | 39 | 9 | 2 |
| 1988 | PIT | C | 40 | 33 | 152 | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| 1989 | PIT | C | 84 | 65 | 334 | 32 | 2 | 2 |
| 1990 | MIN | C | 68 | 45 | 247 | 25 | 0 | 6 |
| 1991 | MIN | C | 60 | 41 | 203 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| 1992 | CLE | C | 86 | 69 | 402 | 38 | 5 | 2 |
| 1993 | CLE | C | 95 | 84 | 441 | 58 | 5 | 13 |
| 1994 | TEX | C | 28 | 18 | 106 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 702 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | TEX | AL | $350,000 |
| 1993 | CLE | AL | $395,000 |
| 1992 | CLE | AL | $300,000 |
| 1991 | MIN | AL | $450,000 |
| 1990 | PIT | NL | $350,000 |
| 1989 | PIT | NL | $300,000 |
| 1988 | PIT | NL | $250,000 |
| 1987 | PIT | NL | $190,000 |
| 1986 | PIT | NL | $97,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $2,682,000 | ||