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Rafael Ortega was signed by the White Sox to a minor league deal last week, according to the outfielder’s Instagram page and the MLB.com transaction log. He’ll probably be in MLB camp for Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.
For the eighth time in his career, Ortega hopes to return to the majors for a fourth consecutive season. With six different teams, the left-handed hitter has made appearances. The one and only season he spent with the same team was across town in Chicago. For a spell, Ortega was the Cubs’ starting centre fielder and leadoff hitter from 2021 to 2022.
To date, Ortega’s most fruitful years have been those spent on the North Side. In little more than 700 plate appearances, he put up a strong batting line of.265/.344/.408 combined. Because of this, it was somewhat unexpected that he was forced to accept a minor league contract with the Yankees and that the Cubs non-tendered him during the previous winter.
Ortega began a nomadic 2023 after failing to gain an outfield job in the Bronx. The Yankees granted him his release. A minor league agreement with the Rangers also didn’t get Ortega back to the majors. Midway through June, he inked another non-roster contract, this time with the Mets. Ortega was promoted to the major leagues by New York after they were eliminated from the running and traded Tommy Pham and Mark Canha before the deadline.
His hitting was below what it was with the Cubs. Despite having a strong.341 slugging percentage, Ortega only managed one home run in 136 plate appearances. His slash line was far below average, at.213/.341/.272. At the end of the season, New York outright removed him off the 40-man roster, which is the same as an early non-tender.
Ortega will attempt to earn a spot on the Spring Training roster for the second consecutive spring. Though he can play all three outfield positions, the 32-year-old would be more comfortable in a corner than in centre field. Luis Robert Jr. is firmly established in centre for Chicago, and Andrew Benintendi is primed for a comeback in left. Wide open is right field, where the Sox had a.219/.271/.344 performance the previous year. Currently, Ñscar Colás and Gavin Sheets intend to divide their time.
On Tuesday, general manager Chris Getz admitted that the front office might include a more reputable choice. That goal shouldn’t be impeded by Ortega. Even though the transaction wasn’t formally documented until yesterday, the transaction tracker shows that his deal was signed on January 5. Getz was undoubtedly aware of Ortega’s affiliation with the team prior to Tuesday’s remarks regarding a possible right field acquisition. In addition, non-roster players Brett Phillips, Wynton Bernard, and Mark Payton are part of the organisation.
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