MILWAUKEE -- For the first time since Monday, Joey Ortiz got the start at third base for the Brewers. Unfortunately, his stay at the hot corner didn’t last long.
Ortiz was removed from Saturday’s bout with the Twins after the bottom of the third inning, getting replaced by David Hamilton to start the fourth. The Brewers later confirmed he departed the game due to neck tightness.
The hope will certainly be that the ailment is temporary, as Ortiz has enjoyed a bit of a career renaissance for Milwaukee this season. The 28-year-old -- who joined the Brewers along with DL Hall in the Corbin Burnes trade on Feb. 1, 2024 – has endured a difficult start to his Milwaukee tenure. He entered this season having slashed a combined .234/.303/.356 over his first two years with the club, and the start of 2026 didn’t go much better.
Things changed once he pivoted from shortstop to third on June 18 after the Brewers called up rookie Cooper Pratt. Since then, “third-base Joey” has become an unexpected success at the plate for Milwaukee, posting an .809 OPS in 36 games since the position change.