Felix Jorge

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #12 prospect in 2018
  Signed late in the 2010-11 signing period, nearly two months after his 17th birthday, Jorge has more than justified his $400,000 signing bonus. Durable and long-limbed, Jorge has drawn comparisons to a young Ervin Santana with his smooth, deceptive delivery and unflappable mound demeanor. Jorge's fastball carries a wide range, clocking in at anywhere from 88-94 mph with good arm-side run on his two-seamer. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, and he also features a late-breaking slider and a slow curveball. Added to the 40-man roster for the first time last winter, he dedicated his season to late friend and former teammate Yorman Landa, killed in an auto accident in December 2016. Jorge was given a pair of midseason spot starts in the majors before 44-year-old Bartolo Colon was signed as a stopgap. In five starts above Double-A, Jorge struggled to a 6.95 ERA and saw his strikeout rate drop noticeably. A good athlete, Jorge holds runners and fields his position well. Jorge figures to open 2018 back at Triple-A Rochester, where he appeared to wear down last August and saw his command fade in and out. Once considered a future mid-rotation piece, he now projects as back-of-the-rotation starter.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #8 prospect in 2017
  Signed as a slender teenager for $400,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, Jorge took a step forward in 2016 after repeating low Class A Cedar Rapids in 2015. The righthander started the season 9-3, 1.55 at high Class A Fort Myers, earning a July promotion to Double-A Chattanooga. The Southern League proved more challenging for Jorge. His strikeout rate dipped to 3.9 per nine, but he maintained his trademark control. Jorge fits the command-oriented mold of past Twins starters. He finally started to fill out his frame in 2016. Working anywhere from 86-94 mph in the past, Jorge now has the physicality to sit consistently at 90 and above. He touches 95 mph with sink and has added more action and velocity to his breaking pitches. Jorge uses an average, late-breaking slider, but his above-average sinking changeup is his main out pitch. Jorge throws with a clean, athletic delivery and fields his position well. With feel and command beyond his years, Jorge is finally developing the durability necessary to maintain his stuff deeper into outings. He projects as a back-end starter and will likely pick up where he left off at Chattanooga in 2017.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2016
  Twins general manager Terry Ryan paid Jorge a nice compliment after a breakthrough 2015 season, saying the slender Dominican flummoxes hitters and shows surprising durability the "same way Ervin Santana does it." Originally signed for $400,000 Jorge still carries significant projectability in his frame, although the Twins chose not to add him to the 40-man roster. Increasing his career-high workload by 48 percent from an uneven 2014 season, Jorge stayed strong until the end, winning both his starts in the low Class A Midwest League playoffs. He shows plus command of his 88-92 mph fastball, which has solid run and sink and can touch 95 mph. He keeps hitters off-balance with a late-breaking slider that can get slurvy at times and a power changeup that reaches 90-91 mph and flashes plus and maintaining average quality. Lean and athletic with a quiet personality and a strong competitive streak, Jorge fields his position well and picked off at least half a dozen baserunners. After needing two cracks to master low Class A, he should move up to high Class A Fort Myers. He projects as a back-end starter but could wind up in the bullpen.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #28 prospect in 2015
  For the second straight summer, Jorge dominated the competition in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. What didn't go as well for the wiry righthander was his first exposure to the low Class A Midwest League. Lanky and athletic with a lean lower half, Jorge signed for $400,000 and still carries significant upside. Featuring long arms and large hands and a delivery that includes some effort, he sits at 90-92 mph with his fastball, showing solid run and sink. He touches 94 mph and also features a slicing slider that shows sharp, late movement. His changeup is clearly his No. 3 pitch at this point. He holds runners and fields his position well enough. Extremely coachable, his English-speaking skills have improved greatly as well. Jorge has a quiet personality but flashes a competitive streak on the mound. He projects as a No. 4 starter if he reaches his ceiling, but he could wind up in the bullpen.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #17 prospect in 2014
  Borderline dominant atop the Rookie-level Elizabethton rotation in 2013, Jorge ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the Appalachian League after posting a 4.0 SO/BB ratio. Lanky and athletic with a lean lower half, Jorge signed for $400,000 in 2011 and still has plenty of upside as he projects to add strength to his wiry frame. Equipped with long arms and large hands, he sits at 90-92 mph with his fastball, showing solid run and sink. He touches 94 mph and also features an atypical slider that slices through the zone, making a hard left turn and dropping fast and late. His changeup is clearly his No. 3 pitch at this point but it shows potential. He holds runners well enough, helps himself with his fielding ability and is extremely coachable. Jorge has progressed well in learning to speak English, a key emphasis in the Twins system. He has a quiet personality overall but flashes a competitive streak on the mound. He projects as a mid- to late-rotation starter, but he could wind up in the bullpen down the road if he doesn't smooth out his delivery. He'll make his full-season debut as part of a loaded low Class A Cedar Rapids rotation in 2014.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2013
  Jorge entered 2010 as one of the top pitchers in the Dominican amateur market, and the Twins stuck with him even after his velocity dipped close to the July 2 signing date. They signed him the following February for $250,000. In his U.S. debut last year, he was the best pitching prospect on a Gulf Coast League Twins staff that led the league with a 2.75 ERA. That group also includes slender lefty Yorman Landa, strike-throwing Taiwan import Kuo Hua Lo and hard-throwing lefty Randy Rosario. Jorge showed off his advanced pitchability by going 23 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. His fastball currently ranges from 89-92 mph and touches 94. His curveball shows signs of becoming an average pitch, with some snap and downer action. His arm works well with an easy delivery. Jorge has room to add 30 or more pounds to his projectable frame, so he's far from a finished product. He'll advance to Elizabethon this year and make his full-season debut in 2014.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked American League #14 prospect in 2013
  Jorge had a solid domestic debut last year in the Gulf Coast League and continued his success this summer with the fourth-highest strikeout rate (28 percent) in the league and a 4-1 K-BB ratio. The long, athletic Jorge offers significant projection in his wiry frame and lean lower half. He has long arms and large hands that allow him to manipulate the baseball. The ball jumps out of his hand as he produces 90-94 mph fastballs and touches 96 at his best, usually sitting 90-92 with good run and sink. Jorge?s breaking ball can flash plus with slurvy action, and his changeup is developing. His control is ahead of his command. With continued physical development, improved command and sharpened offspeed stuff, Jorge has the ceiling of a No. 3 or 4 starter. His arm-heavy delivery has effort, however, and might play better in the bullpen.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed as a slender teenager for $400,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, Jorge took a step forward in 2016 after repeating low Class A Cedar Rapids in 2015. The righthander started the season 9-3, 1.55 at high Class A Fort Myers, earning a July promotion to Double-A Chattanooga. The Southern League proved more challenging for Jorge. His strikeout rate dipped to 3.9 per nine, but he maintained his trademark control. Scouting Report: Jorge fits the command-oriented mold of past Twins starters. He finally started to fill out his lanky frame in 2016 and gained velocity in the process. Working anywhere from 86-94 mph in the past, Jorge now has the physicality to sit consistently at 90 and above. He touches 95 mph with sink and has added more action and velocity to his breaking pitches. Jorge uses an average, late-breaking slider to keep hitters off balance, but his above-average sinking changeup is his main out pitch. Jorge throws with a clean, athletic delivery and fields his position well.
  
  The Future: With pitching feel and command beyond his years, Jorge is finally developing the durability necessary to maintain his stuff deeper into outings. He projects as a back-end starter and will likely pick up where he left off at Chattanooga in 2017.