Luis Ortiz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Ortiz presented an intriguing amateur skill set but fell to the 30th overall pick in 2014 because of arm tightness, signing for $1.75 million. Undeniable talent and health questions followed him from the Rangers to the Brewers then to the Orioles in the 2018 trade-deadline deal for Jonathan Schoop. Durability issues and conditioning are holding him back. A hamstring injury covering first base ended his first major league start in September, and thereby his season.
  
  Scouting Report: Ortiz's upside mostly resides in his arm strength, with a plus fastball up to 96 mph in shorter stints and a potentially above-average slider when he stays behind it. He also shows feel for a changeup, but Ortiz didn't show the ability to repeat his delivery or command his pitches at the major league level. He is listed at 230 pounds but is significantly heavier, with a plump physique that has produced questions as to whether he'd be able to stay healthy or control his delivery.
  
  The Future: Ortiz has previously been touted as a starter with No. 3 potential, but it's more a back-end rotation ceiling with a higher likelihood to end up in the bullpen after what he showed in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #6 prospect in 2018
  After acquiring Ortiz from the Rangers in the 2016 Jonathan Lucroy trade, the Brewers assigned him to Double-A Biloxi at age 21 and he recorded a 1.93 ERA in six starts. Sent back to Biloxi in 2017, he pitched effectively but missed time with a hamstring strain as well as an illness late in the year. Given Ortiz's large, hefty frame, conditioning has been an ongoing focus. Ortiz's low-80s slider has a tight, late break that makes it look like a fastball initially. He throws his fastball in the mid-90s and maintains his velocity throughout his outings, a good sign in terms of remaining a starter. Ortiz continues to work on his changeup, an improving pitch that has a chance to be at least average. By working hard on repeating his delivery, he has become a consistent strike-thrower with a high ceiling. Ortiz still makes too many mistakes in the strike zone, so staying healthy to take regular turns is paramount. If Ortiz proves he has a starter's stamina, he has No. 3 upside and could reach the majors in 2018. The Brewers will wrestle with the decision whether to send him to hitter-happy Triple-A Colorado Springs.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #3 prospect in 2017
  Ortiz dealt with a forearm injury as a high school senior that forced him down the board to the Rangers at No. 30 overall in the 2014 draft. Texas dealt him along with 2012 first-rounder Lewis Brinson to the Brewers in the Jonathan Lucroy deal at the 2016 trade deadline. Milwaukee assigned Ortiz to Double-A Biloxi, where he recorded a 1.93 ERA in six starts while working on strict pitch counts. With a large, physical frame, Ortiz maintains his mid-90s velocity throughout his outings and also throws an above-average low-80s slider that has tight, late break. He has tried to incorporate his changeup more often, and it is an improving pitch with average potential. Using a smooth, three-quarters delivery that he repeats consistently, Ortiz pounds the bottom of the strike zone and has at least average control. He has shown a feel for working both sides of the plate and keeps the ball in the park. Durability is the obvious concern because of his history of health issues, including a strained flexor muscle that cost him two months in 2015 and a strained groin in 2016 that cost him a couple starts. Ortiz has the stuff and touch to be mid-rotation starter, but he has to commit more to conditioning and stay off the disabled list. He still is young and already has pitched at Double-A, and he could reach Milwaukee later in 2017 with a big year.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #4 prospect in 2016
  Ortiz made his mark as one of the top prospects in the 2014 draft the prior summer, when he was the MVP at the 18U World Cup on USA Baseball's gold medalists. The Rangers drafted him No. 30 overall and signed him for $1.75 million. He pitched effectively in his first full season with low Class A Hickory, though he missed two and a half months toward the end with elbow tendinitis. He returned and finished the season with four scoreless, one-hit innings in Hickory's championship playoff run. Ortiz combines power stuff with touch and feel. His power fastball sits 92-95 mph and can bump 97, with excellent command of the pitch for his age to both sides of the plate with a sound, repeatable delivery. Ortiz has a putaway slider with good tilt, coming out of his hand on the same plane as his fastball before snapping off with late, tight break. He has shown progress with a changeup that could become an average or better pitch, but it's still inconsistent. He also sprinkles in an occasional curveball. Durability is a concern with Ortiz, who in addition to the elbow problem in 2015 also missed time the previous year with forearm tightness. The Rangers have had to be conservative with him because of his poor conditioning, with Ortiz growing sideways and carrying a body reminiscent of Joba Chamberlain. Ortiz has the highest ceiling among the organization's pitching prospects, with frontline starter potential if he can get in better shape and stay on the mound. If he does, he could move quickly, with high Class A High Desert his next stop.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #9 prospect in 2015
  Ortiz drew attention as a high school junior for his arm strength, but his stock soared that summer when he shed excess weight and earned MVP honors at the 18U World Championship as the closer on Team USA's goldmedal winner. Despite an inconsistent senior season, including some missed time with forearm tightness, Ortiz went 30th overall to the Rangers, then signed for $1.75 million and pitched well in his brief pro debut. Ortiz is a big-bodied pitcher and the ball comes out of his arm cleanly with sound mechanics that he repeats, which helps him command his plus fastball, a pitch that sits in the low 90s and touches 96 mph. His slider is a swing-and-miss pitch, a plus offering that he relies on to finish batters. He hasn't needed his changeup much, but it shows average potential, giving him the potential three-pitch mix to start, along with an occasional curveball. He's a consistent strike-thrower, which could help him move quickly if he remains healthy. After getting a brief trial at low Class A Hickory in 2014, Ortiz should return there to start 2015. He's still a few years away, but he has the makings of a potential mid-rotation starter.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #28 prospect in 2014 draft
  Ortiz was a hard-throwing, soft-bodied hurler entering his junior year. Then he lost 30 pounds over the course of the next year and was one of the most consistent pitchers on the showcase circuit last summer. He worked exclusively out of the stretch, sitting 92-94 mph, touching 95 with regularity and late riding life through the zone. Ortiz was named the World Cup MVP for his role as the closer on the gold medal-winning 18-and-under USA Baseball national team. But he has had an uneven spring, running his fastball up to 96 mph early only to miss time with arm tightness. He has been used irregularly, pitching three times in a five-day stretch in early April. His velocity had bounced back, however, sitting 91-94 in a late April start. Ortiz has an out pitch in his slider, a changeup with average potential and a curveball he is working into game action. The Fresno State commit has an easy delivery and the ball jumps out of his hand from a high three-quarters arm slot. Ortiz has demonstrated advanced strike-throwing ability with the ability to locate well on either side of the plate. The 6-foot, 223-pound Ortiz has a strong, durable build that lacks projection and needs to be monitored over the long run.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #12 prospect in 2017
  Ortiz joined a new organization late in 2016 but showed in 2017 the same results, both in terms of dominant stuff and health concerns stemming from his extra-large frame. He spent time on the disabled list for the third straight season, this time with a June hamstring injury, and then spent August working on restrictive pitch counts. Even still, he set an innings high of 94. Ortiz runs his fastball to the mid-90s with plane and riding life through the strike zone. Batters have a hard time picking the ball up out of his hand. Ortiz can spot his plus high-80s slider for strikes or elicit chases out of the zone. When he repeats his delivery, he throws an average curveball. He also shows some feel for a fading mid-80s changeup that can play as average. Ortiz faces questions about a move to the bullpen based on his conditioning, but most scouts like him as a starter based on his average control, wide repertoire and notable competitiveness.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #6 prospect in 2015
  Ortiz dominated the SAL in the first half before missing July and August with fatigue. When he returned in September he made three one-inning starts and then shifted to the bullpen for the SAL playoffs as Hickory captured the league title. Ortiz would often start games with a tick-above-average fastball, then steadily add more velocity as the game progressed. For example, 92-93 mph would morph into 95-97 in the later innings. Already thick-framed, Ortiz has good body control and repeats his delivery well. When the season began, Ortiz was more of a two-pitch pitcher who mixed in an above-average slider with his fastball. He worked on his changeup throughout the season and by the end of the year, it had developed into a pitch that generated swings and misses with better deception, location and fade.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #79 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #64 prospect in 2016

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  It’s pretty much the same question each season for Ortiz: Can he stay healthy? Sure enough, he missed time in April with a hamstring strain. When Ortiz is on the mound, however, he remains promising with a good feel for pitching at a young age and electric stuff. He is a power pitcher who is still working on his off-speed stuff to expand his repertoire. Ortiz’s biggest challenge will be keeping his big body in decent shape but his solid command and repeatable, clean delivery should keep him on track to the big leagues. Building innings this season is top priority.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: After acquiring Ortiz from the Rangers in the 2016 Jonathan Lucroy trade, the Brewers assigned him to Double-A Biloxi at age 21 and he recorded a 1.93 ERA in six starts. Sent back to Biloxi in 2017, he pitched effectively but missed time with a hamstring strain as well as an illness late in the year. Given Ortiz's large, physical frame, conditioning has been an ongoing focus. Scouting Report: Ortiz's low-80s slider has a tight, late break that makes it look like a fastball initially. He throws his fastball in the mid-90s and maintains his velocity throughout his outings, which is a good sign in terms of remaining a starter. Ortiz continues to work on his changeup, an improving pitch that has the chance to be at least average. By working hard on repeating his delivery, he has become a consistent strike-thrower with a high ceiling. Ortiz still makes too many mistakes in the strike zone, so staying healthy to take regular turns is paramount. The Future: If Ortiz proves he has a starter's stamina, he has No. 2 upside and could reach the majors in 2018. The Brewers will wrestle with the decision whether to send him to hitter-happy Triple-A Colorado Springs.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Ortiz dealt with a forearm injury as a high school senior that forced him down the board to the Rangers at No. 30 overall in the 2014 draft. Texas dealt him along with 2012 first-rounder Lewis Brinson to the Brewers in the Jonathan Lucroy deal at the 2016 trade deadline. Milwaukee assigned Ortiz to Double-A Biloxi, where he recorded a 1.93 ERA in six starts while working on pitch counts. Scouting Report: With a large, physical frame, Ortiz maintains his mid-90s velocity throughout his outings and also throws an above-average low-80s slider that has tight, late break. He has tried to incorporate his changeup more often, and it is an improving pitch with average potential. Using a smooth, three-quarters delivery that he repeats consistently, Ortiz pounds the bottom of the strike zone and has at least average control. Durability is the obvious concern because of his history of health issues, including a strained flexor muscle that cost him two months in 2015 and a strained groin in 2016 that cost him a couple starts.
  
  The Future: Ortiz has the stuff and touch to be mid-rotation starter, but he has to commit more to conditioning and stay off the disabled list. He could reach Milwaukee later in 2017.
• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Ortiz drew attention as a high school junior for his arm strength, but his stock soared that summer when he shed excess weight and earned MVP honors at the 18U World Championship as the closer on Team USA's goldmedal winner. Despite an inconsistent senior season, including some missed time with forearm tightness, Ortiz went 30th overall to the Rangers, then signed for $1.75 million and pitched well in his brief pro debut. Ortiz is a big-bodied pitcher and the ball comes out of his arm cleanly with sound mechanics that he repeats, which helps him command his plus fastball, a pitch that sits in the low 90s and touches 96 mph. His slider is a swing-and-miss pitch, a plus offering that he relies on to finish batters. He hasn't needed his changeup much, but it shows average potential, giving him the potential three-pitch mix to start, along with an occasional curveball. He's a consistent strike-thrower, which could help him move quickly if he remains healthy. After getting a brief trial at low Class A Hickory in 2014, Ortiz should return there to start 2015. He's still a few years away, but he has the makings of a potential mid-rotation starter.