Daniel Ortmeier
| AB | 255 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .255 |
| OBP | .309 |
| SLG | .412 |
| HR | 6 |
- Full name Daniel David Ortmeier
- Born 05/11/1981 in Chattanooga, TN
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: S / Throws: L
- School Texas-Arlington
- Debut 09/05/2005
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Drafted in the 3rd round (97th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2002 (signed for $396,000).
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OF Dan Ortmeier is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound switch-hitter with speed and some power.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A perennial member of Giants prospect lists, Ortmeier retains his prospect status because his tools are undeniable. He's switch-hitter with a line-drive swing from both sides of the plate, above-average defense in right or center field, a plus arm and surprising speed for a player his size. Ortmeier made a contribution at the big league level last season, hitting a game-tying pinch-hit single off the Dodgers' Danys Baez in the ninth inning of a game the Giants won 6-5. But he sat for a long stretch before the Giants returned him to Triple-A, and a poor showing there found him back in Double-A with bruised confidence. His lefthanded hitting mechanics were a mess, and pitchers noticed they could take advantage of his long, open stride and his tendency to rotate off pitches. As a result, he saw a lot of fastballs up and breaking balls away. While Ortmeier had a more consistent swing from the right side, he'll need to reestablish himself as a lefty hitter to move back into the Giants' plans. He competes well, always hustles and is one of the most likeable players in the system. He'll probably look for a fresh start in Triple-A this season. -
Ortmeier was the Giants' top outfield prospect before they loaded up on outfielders in the last three drafts. He suffered through an injury-plaged season in 2004 but bounced back with a strong 2005 campaign. Ortmeier has a solid all-around game but will go as far as his bat takes him. He did a good job of translating his raw power into game power last year, clubbing 20 homers after totaling 23 over his first three seasons. He also did a better job of making contact. He's aggressive at the plate, on the bases and in the field (hence the collisions that have caused injuries to both shoulders and a concussion). He's an above-average runner, particularly for his size. Ortmeier still must improve his approach and feel for hitting to be an everyday big leaguer. His arm strength hasn't come back since a 2004 injury to his left shoulder and is now fringe average, though he compensates with good accuracy and a quick release. No one in the organization plays harder. Ortmeier had four multihit efforts in six games in the Arizona Fall League before a sore wrist caused him to shut it down for the fall. He looked overmatched in September in his big league trial and will get his first taste of Triple-A Fresno in 2006. -
Coming into 2004, the Giants considered Ortmeier their top position-player prospect because of his combination of usable skills, hustle and tools. They still regard him highly, but want to see him have a healthy season to know what kind of big leaguer he'll be. His all-out style already had led to shoulder problems in the past, and three separate injuries hampered him for most of last year. He put Reading catcher Carlos Ruiz in the hospital after a home-plate collision May 5 that injured his shoulder. He missed a week and he wasn't the same player when he returned, as his average dropped 36 points in a month. Ortmeier missed more time in July with a left wrist injury, though an MRI revealed no significant damage. His season came to an early end Aug. 16 when he collided with Norwich second baseman Jay Pecci while chasing a popup, giving him a concussion. The injuries sapped Ortmeier of his game power, and his ability to translate his above-average raw pop into production will determine whether he becomes an everyday right fielder in the majors. He runs well for his size and has an average right-field arm when at full strength. Ortmeier had more trouble making contact in 2004 than he had in the past, though that may be attributable to his physical problems. He'll probably return to Double-A at the outset of the season. -
Ortmeier has been on the radar for some time, but still ranks as somewhat of a sleeper. He was drafted out of high school in 1999 (27th round, White Sox) and was a two-time all-Southland Conference selection. He started 2003 as a DH primarily while recovering from left shoulder surgery. Ortmeier has the organization's best combination of tools and skills. His swing is consistent and smooth from both sides of the plate. He shows a quick enough bat to hit inside pitches and lashes line drives from gap-to-gap. He also made strides with his two-strike approach. He runs well enough to play center field, though he profiles best in right. Ortmeier's shoulder injury sapped some strength from what had been a plus arm, though it should bounce back. Some club officials fear his all-out playing style could work against him in the form of more injuries in the future. He hasn't learned to pull the ball yet for the power teams want from their corner outfielders. Ortmeier has the potential to hit .280-.300 with 20-homer power from both sides of the plate. He'll try to prove he's on track to that kind of future projection in 2004 at Double-A Norwich. -
Like Fred Lewis, Ortmeier was a raw college outfielder when the Giants grabbed him with an early pick (third round) in the 2002 draft. Ortmeier isn't quite as toolsy as Lewis but he's a little more polished. Ortmeier projects as a center fielder, which makes him a valuable commodity in the Giants system. Still, San Francisco didn't get to see him in center as much as it wanted after he signed. He injured his shoulder, which kept him in left field until he was shut down in mid-August and knocked him out of instructional league. Though his progress was slowed by the injury, Ortmeier should move quickly once he's healthy because he's a switch-hitter with size, speed and power. He's better as a lefthanded hitter at this point. If he plays alongside Lewis in low Class A this year, Ortmeier may see more time in right field than in center.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Part of an athletic Volcanoes outfield with Lewis and Randy Walter, Ortmeier showed more potential than Walter but not as many tools as Lewis. He missed the last two weeks of the season with a shoulder injury that limited him to left field when he did play, but showed enough tools when healthy. Ortmeier has a better idea of how to drive the ball than Lewis, and projects to have average power. If the switch-hitter is markedly better from one side than the other, league managers couldn't tell, and they liked his ability to drive the ball to the gaps from either side. He runs well for his size, covers ground in the outfield and showed some prowess on the bases. "He's athletic, has a plus arm and showed some power," Spokane manager Tom Poquette said. "He played like a right fielder."
