Luis Ortiz (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Luis Alberto Ortiz Galarza (born May 25, 1970 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a former third baseman
/designated hitter
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Boston Red Sox
(1993–94) and Texas Rangers
(1995–96). He also played one season in Japan for the Yakult Swallows
(1997). Listed at 6' 0", 190 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
In a four-season career, Ortiz was a .228 hitter (33-for-145) with two home run
s and 26 RBI
in 60 games, including 14 runs
, seven doubles
and three triples
without a steal
.
Following his majors career, Ortiz played in Japanese baseball with the 1997 Yakult Swallows
. He also played in the Red Sox, Rangers, Diamondbacks
, Expos
and Cardinals
minor league
systems. (1991–2004).
Before retitring in 2004, Luis went back to school and graduated from Union Universtiy in Jackson, TN. Doing so, Luis became the first player from the Dominican Republic that has played in the Majors and has graduated from college. After retiring from baseball, Luis opened a baseball school in Keller, TX. Luis is currently a hitting roving instructor for the Texas Rangers. He has published four hitting books (The Natural Hitter Handbook plus three drills books). He also has hitting and throwing videos.
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
/designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played from through for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1993–94) and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(1995–96). He also played one season in Japan for the Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
(1997). Listed at 6' 0", 190 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.
In a four-season career, Ortiz was a .228 hitter (33-for-145) with two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 26 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 60 games, including 14 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, seven doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and three triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
without a steal
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
.
Following his majors career, Ortiz played in Japanese baseball with the 1997 Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
. He also played in the Red Sox, Rangers, Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
systems. (1991–2004).
Before retitring in 2004, Luis went back to school and graduated from Union Universtiy in Jackson, TN. Doing so, Luis became the first player from the Dominican Republic that has played in the Majors and has graduated from college. After retiring from baseball, Luis opened a baseball school in Keller, TX. Luis is currently a hitting roving instructor for the Texas Rangers. He has published four hitting books (The Natural Hitter Handbook plus three drills books). He also has hitting and throwing videos.