Luis Ortiz

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.