Tyler Bortnick

Tyler Bortnick

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School Coastal Carolina University
• High School Mentor High School

• Born July 3, 1987 in Mentor, OH USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Tyler Bortnick is an infielder who has played the minor leagues.

Amateur Career

Bortnick set his high school's record for doubles and was all-state as a senior. As a freshman at Coastal Carolina University, he batted a strong .383/.444/.481 in a part-time role. In 2007, the sophomore fell to .269/.366/.385 while starting at short. He did set a school record for assists by a shortstop (194). He produced at a .345/.457/.493 rate with 56 runs in 64 games in 2008 and improved his school record for assists at short (214). He was third in the Big South Conference in walks and OBP and 9th in average, winning second-team All-Conference. He was also named the Big South Tournament MVP, going 9 for 18 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI in five games. As a senior, Tyler continued to improve his offensive production, to .363/.469/.566 with 65 runs in 63 contests. He was again second-team All-Conference.

Minors

He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 16th round of the 2009 amateur draft (the scout was Brad Matthews), between Luke Bard and Keenyn Walker. He made his professional debut that year with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League. In 65 games playing mainly shortstop and third base, he hit .300/.386/.470 with 17 doubles and 24 stolen bases in 32 tries. He was 4th in the NYPL in steals and 10th in average.

In 2010, Bortnick was promoted to the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League, where he hit .303/.408/.541 in 113 games, now playing principally at second base. He also played 12 games for the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League that season, but hit only .206/.300/.382. Between the two stops, he had 35 doubles, scored 76 runs, hit 9 homers and stole 41 bases (caught 14 times) for a second straight all-around solid season. He tied Isaias Velasquez for second among Rays minor leaguers in swipes (behind Ty Morrison) and was 7th in the MWL in that department.

He was back at Charlotte in 2011, where he hit .306/.428/.432 in 132 games, all at second base (where he made 19 errors). He hit another 34 doubles, drove in 70 runs, drew 79 walks, scored 96 and stole 43 bases while only being caught four times. He led the Florida State League in OBP (10 points ahead of runner-up Robbie Grossman), times hit by pitch (25), double plays at second base (96) and steals (7 ahead of #2 Pedro Zapata). He was also third with 79 walks (25 shy of leader Grossman), tied for 6th in triples (7) and 8th in average (between Evan Crawford and A.J. Jimenez). He was named the FSL All-Star second baseman. Only two players in the affiliated minors (Jared Prince and Nate Roberts) got plunked more times. Baseball America rated him as being the best baserunner in the FSL and having the best strike-zone discipline in the Rays chain.

In 2012, he moved up another step, this time to AA, playing for the Montgomery Biscuits in the Southern League. He was hitting .253/.352/.385 with 23 steals in 26 tries over 95 games when on July 24th, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for 3B Ryan Roberts.

Sources

• 2012 Rays Media Guide
• CCU bio
• 2012 Baseball Almanac