Joe Ortiz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #30 prospect in 2013
  The Rangers left Ortiz unprotected in both the 2010 and 2011 Rule 5 drafts, but they elected not to risk exposing him a third time, so they added him to their 40-man roster in November. The diminutive reliever turned a corner in 2012, so much so that Texas contemplated calling him up when it needed an extra bullpen lefty. The Rangers love Ortiz's aggressive approach and willingness to throw his plus slider in any count. His low-80s breaking ball makes him a prime candidate for a matchup reliever role in the big leagues. He struck out 25 and walked only one of the 100 lefthanders he faced in 2012, holding them to a .214/.222/.398 line. Thanks to a quick arm, Ortiz throws a 91-92 mph fastball with armside run, keeping hitters from sitting on his slider. However, the list of successful pitchers standing 5-foot-8 and shorter is, well, short. In the past decade, Tim Collins and Danny Ray Herrera are the only two hurlers that short who have worked 100 innings in the majors. Ortiz will try to buck those odds and should get his first callup at some point in 2013.