Yonata Ortega

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #20 prospect in 2012
  Since signing Ortega at the age of 17 in 2004, the Diamondbacks have been waiting patiently for the hard-throwing Dominican Republic native to harness an arm that ranks among the livest in the system. In his first two seasons in the United States, he put up 6.40 and 6.87 ERAs. He led Arizona farmhands with 33 saves in 2010, earning a spot on the 40-man roster, and while he wasn't as consistent last season, he averaged a career-high 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Ortega can blow hitters away with a 94-98 mph fastball. He also shows the makings of a plus splitter and can get swings and misses with his low-80s slider. He still has trouble commanding his pitches, however, and doesn't have much feel for his slider. There's a quality late-inning reliever in there, waiting to come out, if Ortega can build on the strides he made late in 2011. He limited Double-A hitters to a .115 average following a late-July promotion, though he had trouble finding the strike zone. Ortega will return to Mobile this season and he'll move quickly if he can start putting his pitches where he wants.