Daniel Ortiz - 2014

[Shane Wahl]

Name: Daniel Ortiz

Position: OF

Hand: Left

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 175

DOB: January 5, 1990

POB: Caguas, Puerto Rico

Shane's Prospect Rank: 36

2014 start: New Britain

 

2013 statistics (New Britain): 521 plate appearances, .258/.301/.405 (.706), 27 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers, 27 walks, 88 strikeouts, 1 steal, 4 times caught stealing.

 

Ortiz has always really been a fringe mid-tier prospect. After a very strong start in 2013, Ortiz really cooled off and ended up with only a .706 OPS. In 2012, his numbers alternating hot and cool months, but last year he just fell off consistently each month. The thing is that he is still a decent hitter and he plays all three OF positions. He has the clear LH/RH split, so it is easy to see Ortiz destined to be a 4th OF. Given the Twins history with this, however, one wonders if Ortiz isn't following the Evan Bigley path as the Twins continue to waste time bringing in OF filler to AAA. I think Ortiz has the potential to be a very good 4th OF option, and at 24, there is no guarantee that his ceiling couldn't be higher.

[Shane Wahl]

Ortiz's early 2014 statistics:

 

AA:

 

43 plate appearances, .268/.302/.341 (.644), 3-0-0, 2-7, 2-0. Nothing that out of order here, just an early slugging drought.

 

Predictably, Ortiz has spent almost even time in all three OF positions. Given the absence of anyone in the AAA OF other than some Parmelee time, Ortiz might finish the minor league season there and get a September call-up as a extra OF. That's looking ahead, but he is a pretty straight-forward 4th OF right now and the Twins seem to really like him.

[Shane Wahl]

Ortiz's OPS has fallen to .556. I wouldn't be too worried about this at the moment. He should come around and make up for this unusual slow start to the season.

[Shane Wahl]

There are some encouraging signs of late from Ortiz. In the last week, Ortiz has an OPS of 1.091, smacking his first homer along the way. The BB/K (2/20) ratio is still just absolutely terrible. He needs to get that corrected.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

There are some encouraging signs of late from Ortiz. In the last week, Ortiz has an OPS of 1.091, smacking his first homer along the way. The BB/K (2/20) ratio is still just absolutely terrible. He needs to get that corrected.

With the OF roster as it is (both MLB and AAA) how long 'till he gets promoted?

[Shane Wahl]

With the OF roster as it is (both MLB and AAA) how long 'till he gets promoted?

 

I think it might be wise to promote him to AAA in the near future and take over the CF duties from Eric Farris. Ortiz is not ideal there, but unlike Farris, he might still amount to some kind of MLB contributor. The Twins like Ortiz and he certainly provides more hope as a replacement OF than Farris and Wilkin Ramirez.

[Shane Wahl]

Ortiz is continuing to tear the cover off the ball, now sporting a .798 OPS with 4 homers and 12 doubles. Still nothing good on the plate discipline front, but it is good to see him hitting with some authority again.

[Shane Wahl]

A peculiarity so far this year is that Ortiz is pounding lefties. He has an .828 OPS overall, but this splits into .728 vs. RH and 1.062 vs. lefties. This flies in the face of his career splits and the past two seasons where his OPS vs. RH has been around .120 points higher.

[Shane Wahl]

Ortiz has been promoted to AAA.

[jokin]

I think it might be wise to promote him to AAA in the near future and take over the CF duties from Eric Farris. Ortiz is not ideal there, but unlike Farris, he might still amount to some kind of MLB contributor. The Twins like Ortiz and he certainly provides more hope as a replacement OF than Farris and Wilkin Ramirez.

 

Ortiz was 0-4 tonight and started in LF. Don't you think the Twins need to see if Ortiz has the chops to play a little CF? He would certainly have to be a better depth option for the Twins than pursuing the "Hermann in CF" experiment.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't know....Ortiz in LF and Rosario in CF makes more sense to me. Not sure Eddie can make it all the way here this year, but that seems more ideal (assuming either is a MLB player) position wise.

[halfchest]

Ortiz was 0-4 tonight and started in LF. Don't you think the Twins need to see if Ortiz has the chops to play a little CF? He would certainly have to be a better depth option for the Twins than pursuing the "Hermann in CF" experiment.

 

I was just checking into that. Sounds like he could maybe play in a pinch but looking at how little he's played there the last couple of years I'm assuming they don't view him as a realistic option for CF. Then again, we're currently starting a SS out there who hasn't played SS for two years and has like 20 games total in CF in the minors. I would just like some option so we can send Hicks down to play every day and work on hitting right handed.

[Shane Wahl]

I can't really figure out why they don't try him in CF, given everything that is going on!

[jokin]

I don't know....Ortiz in LF and Rosario in CF makes more sense to me. Not sure Eddie can make it all the way here this year, but that seems more ideal (assuming either is a MLB player) position wise.

 

And who dares to call Mike a Debbie Downer?

 

But seriously, I don't know what Shane thinks about Ortiz, long-term, but I've always assumed his best and most realistic shot at making it to the Twins was as a 4th OFer, thus it seems almost mandatory that the Twins find out sooner rather than later if he can play CF at an acceptable level.

[Shane Wahl]

The AAA numbers are creeping up for Ortiz. In 90 plate appearances, the OPS is up to .694. He has hit 4 homers and has 4 walks. Both of those numbers are dramatic improvements over what he produced in AA.

 

Ortiz looks to be figuring out AAA pitching. I cannot envision a September scenario that doesn't involve him, if the Twins are thinking correctly.

[Shane Wahl]

And who dares to call Mike a Debbie Downer?

 

But seriously, I don't know what Shane thinks about Ortiz, long-term, but I've always assumed his best and most realistic shot at making it to the Twins was as a 4th OFer, thus it seems almost mandatory that the Twins find out sooner rather than later if he can play CF at an acceptable level.

 

Sorry I didn't see this. Yes, clearly my griping about not playing him in CF has to do with his 4th OF status.

[nicksaviking]

Why would anyone try Ortiz in CF when clearly Chris Parmelee is available to chase down gappers?

[John Kelsey]

Despite never walking, his OPS is up to .726 and .863 in his last 10 games. He seems to be figuring it out in AAA.

[Shane Wahl]

In 120 plate appearances, Ortiz has climbed to a .246/.275/.439 (.714) line with 4 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, 5 walks and 23 strikeouts. He is starting to figure it out in AAA, and the strikeouts aren't all that alarming.

[TheDean]

Seeing that 5-RBI night for Ortiz, I wouldn't mind him putting on a Twins uniform and covering LF when (not if) Hammer gets traded. Seeing the young guys get playing time is quickly looking like the only redeeming quality of the second half, even if we suffer through a few "Ozzie/Danny/Danny 9K nights" .

[Shane Wahl]

The news that Willingham likely will not be traded until after the trade deadline puts a damper on any quick promotion for Ortiz. If I were running things, I would add him to the 40 man in September after Rochester is done and give him some time as the 4th OF. Of course I also would have traded Willingham by now.

 

Ortiz has not been spectacular yet at AAA, but he is doing fine. I would envision his 2015 as a year where he makes it or starts to break it (it wouldn't be over for him if he struggled in AAA next year, but it would be close).

 

I still view Ortiz as OF support for some combo of Buxton, Hicks, Arcia, and Rosario. I really hope that the Twins just stop with this inane adding of marginal OFs from outside the organization. I have never understood it instead of giving your own a chance. Evan Bigley and Garrett Jones probably wonder that too.

[Shane Wahl]

Ortiz is holding steady with a .718 OPS, though it is a 122 point drop from his AA output this season, in almost the exact same number of plate appearances. He is hot to start August, so hopefully he ends the season strong and can get a solid look next spring.