Where Are They Now?: Bonney Lake’s Jayden Ortiz-Ruiz Begins Pro Baseball Journey in Puerto Rico
- The Insider
- 30 minutes ago
- 4 min read
For Bonney Lake baseball fans who remember the speedy Panther who could change a game the moment he reached base, Jayden Ortiz-Ruiz is now taking his game thousands of miles from home, all the way to Puerto Rico.
The Bonney Lake alum recently began his rookie season with the Cafeteros de Yauco in Puerto Rico’s Liga de Béisbol Superior Doble-A, one of the island’s top professional-level baseball leagues. The league features elite amateur players along with former and current professional players and draws passionate fan bases across the island.
Ortiz-Ruiz reached an early milestone in his Puerto Rico career on February 28, recording his first hit in the Doble-A league during a road game against the Hormigueros Libertadores at Estadio Hermanos Miura. In the game, Ortiz-Ruiz went 1-for-2, collecting the first hit of his career at the level.
For Ortiz-Ruiz, the moment was overwhelming in the best possible way.
“The moment felt surreal,” Ortiz-Ruiz said. “I didn’t even do our team’s hit celebration because I was completely lost in it, just thanking God and taking in the support from my teammates congratulating me. Everything I worked hard for just hit me all at once in that moment.”
A Path Back to Puerto Rico
Ortiz-Ruiz’s opportunity to play in Puerto Rico came through a combination of strong play, family connections, and the tight-knit baseball community on the island.
Born in Puerto Rico, Ortiz-Ruiz still has much of his family living there, and word of his performance began spreading after a strong summer season playing travel baseball in Washington.
“I was born in Puerto Rico, and most of my family still lives there, so word about my performance spread through them,” Ortiz-Ruiz explained. “Their support helped open doors for me.”
In 2024, Ortiz-Ruiz earned an opportunity to play in Doble-A Juvenil for Guánica, a developmental league connected to Puerto Rico’s Doble-A system. That experience ultimately helped him earn a tryout with the Cafeteros.
“I had the chance to play for Doble AA Juvenil in Guánica, which is a junior league for the league I'm in now,” Ortiz-Ruiz said. “After a strong season with Reign, that put my name out there even more. All of that led me to be invited to a tryout for the Cafeteros de Yauco and earn my spot on the final roster of the team.”
Speed That Stood Out in Bonney Lake
Panthers fans may remember Ortiz-Ruiz as one of the fastest players on the field.
During his time at Bonney Lake High School, Ortiz-Ruiz was often used as a late-inning weapon on the basepaths. Despite limited opportunities at the plate, he made the most of his chances.
In just 28 at-bats, Ortiz-Ruiz recorded 12 stolen bases, which led the Panthers in steals for the season, frequently entering games as a pinch runner and immediately putting pressure on opposing defenses.
Summer Ball Breakout
That speed and athleticism continued to shine during summer baseball with NW Reign, where Ortiz-Ruiz delivered a breakout season that helped elevate his profile.
During the summer season, Ortiz-Ruiz produced:
.429 batting average
44 stolen bases
38 runs scored
.526 on-base percentage
The performance helped open doors for opportunities beyond Washington.
“I think it definitely helped,” Ortiz-Ruiz said. “That season showed people what I’m capable of and helped build trust with my coaches in Guánica. I carried that level of play into Guánica and ended up hitting over .350 with an over 1.000 OPS.”
A Different Level of Baseball
Playing baseball in Puerto Rico has brought a completely different atmosphere compared to what Ortiz-Ruiz experienced in Washington.
The passion surrounding the sport on the island is something he quickly noticed.
“Playing in Puerto Rico is a completely different level of intensity,” Ortiz-Ruiz said. “The baseball culture here is extremely passionate, so the games are played with more energy, and the fans are just as intense, sometimes even more.”
The level of competition has also been a major step up.
“I also face ex-pros and current pro players, so the competition is higher,” he added. “Plus, the weather is way more consistent, which makes it easier to practice outside and stay sharp.”
Carrying Bonney Lake With Him
Even while playing thousands of miles from Washington, Ortiz-Ruiz hasn’t forgotten the community where he developed as a player.
“It’s an honor to represent Bonney Lake out here, especially being so far from home,” Ortiz-Ruiz said. “Back in Guánica, my nickname on the team was ‘Washington,’ so it’s something personal for me being able to carry where I come from onto the field.”
For Bonney Lake fans, it’s another example of a local athlete continuing to pursue the game at the next level, this time in a place where baseball is deeply woven into the culture.
And for Ortiz-Ruiz, the journey is just getting started.