Carlos Cortes Stats & Scouting Report

AB	281
AVG	.246
OBP	.33
SLG	.456
HR	16

Full name Carlos Andres Cortes
Born 06/30/1997 in Orlando, FL
Profile Ht.: 5'7" / Wt.: 197 / Bats: L / Throws: S
School South Carolina
Drafted in the 3rd round (83rd overall) by the New York Mets in 2018 (signed for $1,000,038).

View Draft Report

An undersized, 5-foot-8, 185-pound draft-eligible sophomore without a true defensive home, Cortes has befuddled scouts dating back to his high school days when he was taken in the 20th round by the Mets. He hasn't been any easier to evaluate at South Carolina, where he's spent the first two seasons of his college career languishing through early season slumps at the plate before breaking out in the second half. After straddling the Mendoza line for the early part of this spring, Cortes has raised his slash line to .253/.380/.526 through 194 at-bats. Known for a short, compact, line drive-producing lefthanded swing, Cortes has swung with a more uphill bat path this season, reducing his contact but resulting in 15 home runs. When he's at his best, Cortes controls the strike zone and shows a knack for finding the barrel, but his strong prep hitting track record has been shakier at the college level. How high Cortes goes in the 2018 draft will largely depend on how much belief teams have in his bat, as Cortes has an unusual defensive profile. Fully ambidextrous, Cortes throws lefthanded when he plays in the outfield, but his arm strength from both arms is fringy and he's a below-average runner. He'll always need to hit to move up the ranks in pro ball.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Cortes’ offensive production had been muted by the pitcher-friendly New York-Penn and Florida State leagues in past seasons. That wasn’t the case in 2021, when he popped a career-high 14 home runs at Double-A Binghamton and ranked third in the Mets system with a .230 isolated slugging, trailing only young boppers Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos. Cortes was out of action most of September after a Covid outbreak at Binghamton forced the cancelation of 11 games down the stretch. He got back into action in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Cortes has a good eye at the plate and a strong lefthanded swing geared to hit the ball in the air. Few minor league hitters had a higher flyball rate than Cortes, who hit two-thirds of his batted balls in the air in 2021. If he turns more doubles into homers as he matures, his power could get to big league average, to go along with a near-average feel to hit. He slugged .583 against Double-A righthanders in 2021 and could have strong-side platoon utility for an MLB club. Finding a defensive home for the ambidextrous Cortes is more challenging. Drafted as second baseman, he lacked the arm strength throwing righthanded to stick at the keystone. He throws better from his natural left side and is playable in left field. Cortes actually is most at home at first base, but his 5-foot-7 stature is a profile mismatch there.

The Future: The Mets declined to add Cortes to the 40-man roster, making him eligible for the Rule 5 draft. He has the bat to be a 26th man on an MLB roster, if not the defensive versatility.
TRACK RECORD: The Mets signed Cortes for a tick more than $1 million, one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft. He hit at an above-average rate in the short-season New York-Penn and high Class A Florida State leagues, which both favor pitchers to a large degree, in his first two pro seasons. At instructional league in 2020, he started slow but rebounded and hit a 452-foot drive, the longest in any of the Mets’ games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cortes doesn’t fit a traditional profile. He doesn’t have prototype power for an outfield corner or the defensive chops to play second base, the position at which he was drafted. What he does have is big bat speed and a twitchiness at the plate that could make him a major league extra one day. Cortes has the capability to hit .270 to .280 with a disciplined approach and gap power. The Mets gave up on playing Cortes at second base. He is ambidextrous but much more comfortable throwing with his left hand, which limits him to the outfield or first base. He looked smooth around the first base bag at instructs, but his 5-foot-7 stature makes him non-playable there.

THE FUTURE: Cortes’ future potential could be tied whether the DH becomes permanent in the National League. His best role would probably be an outfield reserve who could serve as a club’s dedicated pinch-hitter.
TRACK RECORD: Cortes received one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft when he signed for $1 million. He advanced straight to high Class A St. Lucie in 2019 and put together a productive season in the Florida State League.

SCOUTING REPORT: The 5-foot-7, stocky Cortes bats lefthanded but is fully ambidextrous in the field, where he throws lefthanded in the outfield and righthanded at second base. He focused his time in the FSL at second base, where his fluidity has improved even though he lacks classic first-step quickness or arm strength. The batter's box is where Cortes shines. His picturesque swing and outstanding bat-to-ball skills give him average overall batting potential with the chance for a dozen home runs or more.

THE FUTURE: Cortes doesn't have a prototype body type or speed for the middle infield, but the Mets are convinced he will hit.
Track Record: Mets scouts were convinced of Cortes' hitting potential despite his stocky, 5-foot-7 frame and no true defensive home. He signed for $1 million and received one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft. Cortes is fully ambidextrous. He throws lefthanded while playing outfield and righty at second base, the only position he played during his pro debut.

Scouting Report: Cortes may be short, but he's no slap hitter. He has a powerful, disciplined hitting approach that enabled him to rank top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in home runs (15) and walks (43). Cortes has the above-average raw power for double-digit home runs and the low swing-and-miss rate to hit for a decent average. He plays a workmanlike second base but doesn't stand out for his range, and his fringe-average arm is short for the left side of the infield. He is a below-average runner.

The Future: Cortes' body type has led scouts to speculate that he would fit at catcher. The Mets haven't worked him out behind the plate and for now are committed to developing him at second base.

Draft Prospects

An undersized, 5-foot-8, 185-pound draft-eligible sophomore without a true defensive home, Cortes has befuddled scouts dating back to his high school days when he was taken in the 20th round by the Mets. He hasn't been any easier to evaluate at South Carolina, where he's spent the first two seasons of his college career languishing through early season slumps at the plate before breaking out in the second half. After straddling the Mendoza line for the early part of this spring, Cortes has raised his slash line to .253/.380/.526 through 194 at-bats. Known for a short, compact, line drive-producing lefthanded swing, Cortes has swung with a more uphill bat path this season, reducing his contact but resulting in 15 home runs. When he's at his best, Cortes controls the strike zone and shows a knack for finding the barrel, but his strong prep hitting track record has been shakier at the college level. How high Cortes goes in the 2018 draft will largely depend on how much belief teams have in his bat, as Cortes has an unusual defensive profile. Fully ambidextrous, Cortes throws lefthanded when he plays in the outfield, but his arm strength from both arms is fringy and he's a below-average runner. He'll always need to hit to move up the ranks in pro ball.
A broken finger limited Cortes early on the showcase circuit last summer, but he has still established a long track record of hitting. He has a knack for finding the barrel with his short, compact lefthanded swing. He has some power in his 5-foot-8, 195-pound frame, but he mostly produces hard line drives, which he sprays to all fields. While Cortes looks at home in the batter's box, he has yet to find one in the field. He has played second base, the outfield and even tried catching during his high school career. He throws with both arms, playing in the dirt as a righthander, the outfield as a lefthander and occasionally switch-pitching. But with fringy arm in the infield, below-average speed and his short stature, it is hard to find a position where he truly profiles. If Cortes hits enough, a team will find a spot to play him. But he may have to go to South Carolina, where he is committed, to further prove himself.

Scouting Reports

Track Record: Cortes’ offensive production had been muted by the pitcher-friendly New York-Penn and Florida State leagues in past seasons. That wasn’t the case in 2021, when he popped a career-high 14 home runs at Double-A Binghamton and ranked third in the Mets system with a .230 isolated slugging, trailing only young boppers Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos. Cortes was out of action most of September after a Covid outbreak at Binghamton forced the cancelation of 11 games down the stretch. He got back into action in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Cortes has a good eye at the plate and a strong lefthanded swing geared to hit the ball in the air. Few minor league hitters had a higher flyball rate than Cortes, who hit two-thirds of his batted balls in the air in 2021. If he turns more doubles into homers as he matures, his power could get to big league average, to go along with a near-average feel to hit. He slugged .583 against Double-A righthanders in 2021 and could have strong-side platoon utility for an MLB club. Finding a defensive home for the ambidextrous Cortes is more challenging. Drafted as second baseman, he lacked the arm strength throwing righthanded to stick at the keystone. He throws better from his natural left side and is playable in left field. Cortes actually is most at home at first base, but his 5-foot-7 stature is a profile mismatch there.

The Future: The Mets declined to add Cortes to the 40-man roster, making him eligible for the Rule 5 draft. He has the bat to be a 26th man on an MLB roster, if not the defensive versatility.
TRACK RECORD: The Mets signed Cortes for a tick more than $1 million, one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft. He hit at an above-average rate in the short-season New York-Penn and high Class A Florida State leagues, which both favor pitchers to a large degree, in his first two pro seasons. At instructional league in 2020, he started slow but rebounded and hit a 452-foot drive, the longest in any of the Mets' games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cortes doesn't fit a traditional profile. He doesn't have prototype power for an outfield corner or the defensive chops to play second base, the position at which he was drafted. What he does have is big bat speed and a twitchiness at the plate that could make him a major league extra one day. Cortes has the capability to hit .270 to .280 with a disciplined approach and gap power. The Mets gave up on playing Cortes at second base. He is ambidextrous but much more comfortable throwing with his left hand, which limits him to the outfield or first base. He looked smooth around the first base bag at instructs, but his 5-foot-7 stature makes him non-playable there.

THE FUTURE: Cortes' future potential could be tied whether the DH becomes permanent in the National League. His best role would probably be an outfield reserve who could serve as a club's dedicated pinch-hitter.
TRACK RECORD: The Mets signed Cortes for a tick more than $1 million, one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft. He hit at an above-average rate in the short-season New York-Penn and high Class A Florida State leagues, which both favor pitchers to a large degree, in his first two pro seasons. At instructional league in 2020, he started slow but rebounded and hit a 452-foot drive, the longest in any of the Mets’ games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cortes doesn’t fit a traditional profile. He doesn’t have prototype power for an outfield corner or the defensive chops to play second base, the position at which he was drafted. What he does have is big bat speed and a twitchiness at the plate that could make him a major league extra one day. Cortes has the capability to hit .270 to .280 with a disciplined approach and gap power. The Mets gave up on playing Cortes at second base. He is ambidextrous but much more comfortable throwing with his left hand, which limits him to the outfield or first base. He looked smooth around the first base bag at instructs, but his 5-foot-7 stature makes him non-playable there.

THE FUTURE: Cortes’ future potential could be tied whether the DH becomes permanent in the National League. His best role would probably be an outfield reserve who could serve as a club’s dedicated pinch-hitter.
TRACK RECORD: The Mets signed Cortes for a tick more than $1 million, one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft. He hit at an above-average rate in the short-season New York-Penn and high Class A Florida State leagues, which both favor pitchers to a large degree, in his first two pro seasons. At instructional league in 2020, he started slow but rebounded and hit a 452-foot drive, the longest in any of the Mets’ games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cortes doesn’t fit a traditional profile. He doesn’t have prototype power for an outfield corner or the defensive chops to play second base, the position at which he was drafted. What he does have is big bat speed and a twitchiness at the plate that could make him a major league extra one day. Cortes has the capability to hit .270 to .280 with a disciplined approach and gap power. The Mets gave up on playing Cortes at second base. He is ambidextrous but much more comfortable throwing with his left hand, which limits him to the outfield or first base. He looked smooth around the first base bag at instructs, but his 5-foot-7 stature makes him non-playable there.

THE FUTURE: Cortes’ future potential could be tied whether the DH becomes permanent in the National League. His best role would probably be an outfield reserve who could serve as a club’s dedicated pinch-hitter.
TRACK RECORD: Cortes received one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft when he signed for $1 million. He advanced straight to high Class A St. Lucie in 2019 and put together a productive season in the Florida State League.

SCOUTING REPORT: The 5-foot-7, stocky Cortes bats lefthanded but is fully ambidextrous in the field, where he throws lefthanded in the outfield and righthanded at second base. He focused his time in the FSL at second base, where his fluidity has improved even though he lacks classic first-step quickness or arm strength. The batter’s box is where Cortes shines. His picturesque swing and outstanding bat-to-ball skills give him average overall batting potential with the chance for a dozen home runs or more.

THE FUTURE: Cortes doesn’t have a prototype body type or speed for the middle infield, but the Mets are convinced he will hit.
TRACK RECORD: Cortes received one of just three seven-figure bonuses in the third round of the 2018 draft when he signed for $1 million. He advanced straight to high Class A St. Lucie in 2019 and put together a productive season in the Florida State League.

SCOUTING REPORT: The 5-foot-7, stocky Cortes bats lefthanded but is fully ambidextrous in the field, where he throws lefthanded in the outfield and righthanded at second base. He focused his time in the FSL at second base, where his fluidity has improved even though he lacks classic first-step quickness or arm strength. The batter's box is where Cortes shines. His picturesque swing and outstanding bat-to-ball skills give him average overall batting potential with the chance for a dozen home runs or more.

THE FUTURE: Cortes doesn't have a prototype body type or speed for the middle infield, but the Mets are convinced he will hit.