August 6, 2008

 

Throws: Left
Height/Weight: 5'7''/175
Birthday: 8/13/1990 (Age 17) 
Roster Status: Rule V Eligible after 2011 season

Background: Joseph Ortiz debuted last year in the Dominican Summer League before his 17th birthday.  His small size led him to go under the radar during the 2006 international signing period to some extent.  Ortiz is originally from Venezuela's capital, Caracas.  Venezuelan pitching has become more popular in recent years with the success of pitchers like Carlos Zambrano and Johan Santana.  Santana is the mold some have seen Ortiz as filling, though Santana is listed as five inches and twenty pounds heavier than Ortiz.  Overall, he was signed due to his stuff and control potential rather than his potential for size.

Pitches: Ortiz throws three pitches, the usual arsenal of a starter.  His fastball is rated as average for a lefty pitcher, with its usual range in the low 90s.  He rarely is reported to throw more than 91 on the gun, so his fastball is more based on location than velocity.  His best pitch is his slider, which has the potential to be a plus pitch.  The most unknown of the pitches is his changeup, which is his most unpredictable pitch.  He has thrown some strong changeups, though, so it might have the potential to be a quality offering.  If Ortiz continues to pitch in relief (which is a strong possibility), look for him to drop his changeup if it takes time to develop.

Professional Experience: Ortiz began his pro career with the Rangers in the Dominican Summer League last year.  In 18 games with the team, he pitched 26.2 innings in relief, finishing 15 of his 18 appearances.  In a strong pitching league, Ortiz had a low 2.70 ERA with excellent peripherals, striking out 38 batters while only walking 8.  With a WHIP of only 1.09 while pitching most of the year at age 16, Ortiz was most impressive.   

2008 Season: Ortiz began the year at extended spring training, as a full-season league was likely out of the question for the 17 year-old.  When the time for the short-season leagues came around, Ortiz was assigned to pitch for the AZL Rangers.  However, he only pitched in one game in Surprise before an unexpected promotion to Clinton.  So far at Clinton, Ortiz has done nothing but excel.  In 19 innings over 14 relief appearances, he has only allowed 4 earned runs, striking out 13 and walking 8.  He has struggled a bit with his control, but most of that occurred early on after his promotion.  The biggest plus of the campaign seems to be the fact that he's only allowed 10 hits since his promotion (none have left the yard).  Overall, his season has far exceeded expectations.

Future Outlook: Ortiz has the possibility to move quickly if he stays in the bullpen.  Given his size, a bullpen stay would probably be the best for both Ortiz and the Rangers.  Look for Ortiz to start off the year back at Clinton next year with a chance to find his way to Bakersfield if he continues to succeed.  He turns 18 next week, so no matter what happens over the year or two, he's still ahead of the curve.  The Rangers will likely use Ortiz in a highly scheduled manner, with him pitching every 3 or 4 days.  He might work up to 3 innings in an outing, but don't expect much more from him.  Ortiz' long-term outlook is that of a lefty setup man, with no more to be expected of him.  He is not Billy Wagner, but he could be a quality reliever in about 3-4 years in Arlington.

Written by Andy Seiler

Photo from flickr.com; Username chrishwish