Younger Bortles chasing his dream
has heard it from fans from Clinton to Beloit, from Kane County to the Quad Cities, from Fort Wayne to Bowling Green.
Whenever the Oviedo High graduate is within earshot of fans in the ballparks he visits with the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Class A Midwest League, it seems everyone knows who shares his last name. “Pick-six!’’ “Blake sucks!’’ “I don’t react to it at all,’’ Colby said. “If you’re in the stands and you’re heckling a kid that’s trying to follow his dream, then you’re not a person who someone wants to be with or be around or listen to. You’re not helping anybody.’’
As the Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback,
has developed a protective coat against criticism hurled at him in NFL stadiums, on social media and by traditional media.
When the Jags began their preseason Thursday night by hosting the New Orleans Saints, Colby Bortles — Blake’s younger brother by three years — was nowhere near TIAA Bank Field. He was at a minor-league baseball stadium in Kentucky that has bright lights but little of the scrutiny confronted by his sibling.
“He’s going to be a guy to watch in this organization,’’ said West Michigan manager COMMENTARY the starting catcher on the Detroit Tigers’ 1984 World Series champions.
The Tigers drafted Bortles in the 22nd round last year out of Ole Miss, which he helped reach the College World Series as a freshman in 2014. The third baseman waited as 664 other players were selected before his name was announced.
After playing in the shortseason New York-Penn League last year, Bortles entered Thursday night with three home runs, 46 RBIs and a .232 batting average in 94 games for West Michigan. He has been charged with 17 errors.
Since returning from undergoing the concussion protocol after being hit in the head, Bortles is 10-for-76 (.132).
“The game is built on failing, so you just have to overcome failing,’’ Bortles said. “When you do fail, you learn to accept it and see what you did wrong and move on to the next pitch, the next play.’’
Parrish said he would like Bortles (6-5, 225) to become stronger in the offseason.
“I would think a man his size should hit a few more home runs than he does,’’ Parrish said.
Bortles lives with a host family; West Michigan plays its home games in a suburb of Grand Rapids. He has two roommates. At Ole Miss, his roommate was former Edgewater High standout who has been released by the St. Louis Cardinals’ Class A Florida State League affiliate, Palm Beach.
Another Central Floridian, Chicago White Sox minor-leaguer
played with Bortles in the SEC.
“He was always the one to lighten the mood,’’ Blackman said. “Whether he was having a good day or a bad day, he never really let people know.’’ Having a quick wit helps. When Bortles was asked whether he has his college degree — he does, in criminal justice — he replied, “I do. Does it sound like it?’’
Bortles was well-spoken, more than the fans who attempt to rattle him through his more-famous family connection.
“People say stuff about [Blake], and he just keeps working,’’ Bortles said. “He kept his head down. He’s not going to say anything. He’s going to be the bigger man and show everybody why he is who he is.’’