This year’s MLB Draft had a little bit of Lynn sprinkled into it, as third baseman Deniel Ortiz was drafted in the 16th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. The former Lynn Classical Ram (freshman season) and St. Mary’s Spartan (sophomore and junior seasons) was selected with pick No. 471 out of Walters State Community College in Tennessee.

“Honestly, this feels great. I’m enjoying it,” said Ortiz, who was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico before moving to Lynn at age 12. “They took a kid from Lynn. I enjoy everything about the organization.”

Ortiz – born in 2004, standing 6-foot-1 with a weight of 230 pounds – was a member of The Dugout LLC, a training and batting cage center located on Linden Street in Lynn.

From its individual sessions to fielding clinics, strength and conditioning, and much more, Ortiz said he’s grateful for his time with the organization – one he started training with as an eighth grader.

“It was a place that opened the door for me, did everything for me, and was a great opportunity,” said Ortiz, the 2024 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Player of the Year.

Dugout coach, owner, and founder Julio Henriquez believes Ortiz is a “special talent.”

“He’s very stubborn, in the fact that he knew what he wanted to be,” Henriquez said. “Daniel’s selection makes him the second athlete (Alfonsin Rosario) in as many years to be drafted by The Dugout.”

And if you ask Henriquez, Ortiz “became one of the best hitters in college baseball.” Across his collegiate career, the righty batted .387 with 34 home runs, 116 RBI, 147 runs, and 91 walks across 117 games.

The Dugout was named a Small Business of the Year in 2023, according to Henriquez.

“Division 1 guys, pro guys… Little League, college, varsity, we get these guys ready,” Henriquez said.

With Ortiz on the way, the Cardinals sport a record of 50-46 and place second in the National League Central.