Signed for $20,000 as a nondrafted free agent in 2021, Ortiz looked overmatched in his first full pro season before improving rapidly once he started training with fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Delgado, shortened his left-handed stroke and began wearing contact lenses during games. He won High-A South Atlantic League MVP and Rangers Minor League player of the year honors in 2023, when he topped the Minors in slugging (.619) and ranked fourth in homers (33) and OPS (.990). He recovered from a rough first half at Double-A last year to bat .309/.412/.636 with 15 homers in his final 43 games.
Ortiz's bat speed in his lefty stroke and his strength give him well-above-average raw power that plays to all fields, and he began to tap into it more often when he stopped swinging for the fences. A more selective approach helped him find better pitches to attack, enabling him to hit them harder and drive them in the air more frequently. He tightened his strike zone in 2024, cutting his K rate to 22 percent from 27 percent the year before, but struggled against breaking balls and left-handers.
Most of Ortiz's value will come from his offense because he's a well-below-average runner with fringy arm strength. He's a decent defender at first base, though he needs to reduce his errors. While he has looked better than expected as a right fielder in the Arizona Fall League and Double-A, the outfield corners are still a stretch because of his limited range.
Ortiz attended high school and trained at the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in his native Puerto Rico before following the program's pipeline to Florida Southwestern State JC. Signed for $20,000 as a nondrafted free agent in 2021, he didn't do much in his first full pro season but has taken off since shortening his left-handed swing and beginning to wear contact lenses during games. He led the Minors in slugging (.619) and ranked fourth in homers (33) and OPS (.990) in 2023, then shook off a rough first half in Double-A last season to slash .309/.412/.636 with 15 homers in his final 43 games.
Ortiz's strength and bat speed create well-above-average raw power. He began to tap into it more in games by toning down his approach, which allowed him to hit the ball in the air and with premium exit velocities on a more regular basis. Strikeouts always will be part of his package but he's showing more discipline than he had in the past and will draw his share of walks.
Because Ortiz is a well-below-average runner with fringy arm strength, there's a lot of pressure on his bat. He's an adequate defender at first base who needs to cut down on his errors. He looked better than expected in right field during the Arizona Fall League and in Double-A, but the outfield corners are still a stretch.
Ortiz went to high school and trained at the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in his native Puerto Rico, a program that has sent several players to Florida Southwestern State JC. He followed that path and batted .349/.429/.596 in 2021 before signing with the Rangers for $20,000 as a nondrafted free agent, a move driven by Texas' international department led by director Hamilton Wise. Ortiz didn't do much in his first two pro seasons before breaking out in 2023, challenging for the Minor League lead in homers, slugging and OPS.
While Ortiz features one above-average tool, it's huge and coveted: well above-average raw power from the left side of the plate. He has an aggressive swing but makes a lot of hard contact and shows the ability to launch the ball out of any part of any ballpark. His approach will result in strikeouts but also could yield 30 or more homers per season.
Almost all of Ortiz's value will come from his offensive production, which does put some pressure on his bat. He's a 6-foot, 230-pounder with well below-average speed and fringy arm strength. First base and left field are his only viable options besides DH, and the hope is that he can become an adequate defender at first.
