Milwaukee Brewers: Checking In On Prospect Luis Ortiz

We’ve completed our coverage of the MLB Draft and the potential prospects that could be and will join the Milwaukee Brewers. Let’s turn our attention back to the prospects already in the system. We last checked in on Isan Diaz and his progress in Carolina. Now we take a look at RHP Luis Ortiz, who is the #4 Brewers prospect.

Ortiz came to the Brewers last summer in the Jonathan Lucroy / Jeremy Jeffress blockbuster deal with the Texas Rangers. He earned a promotion as soon as he was traded, pitching in High-A ball with Texas when the deal went down. The Milwaukee Brewers assigned him to Double-A Biloxi. He impressed last season after joining the Biloxi Shuckers and pitched to a 1.93 ERA in six starts.

How is he doing in his second go around in Biloxi?

He’s doing quite well. In 11 starts, Ortiz has a 3.02 ERA and opponents have hit only.189 against him. His WHIP is excellent at only 1.10 and he has 49 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings pitched.

Not everything is going smoothly for Ortiz, however. He’s already walked 24 batters this season. 24 walks allowed is his highest total in a season to date. His professional career started in 2014, so he doesn’t have a long Minor League track record, but it’s still a notable uptick. In over 90 innings last season across three different teams, Ortiz allowed only 23 walks. Allowing 24 through the first two and a half months could be a concern.

Ortiz is currently on the disabled list in Biloxi with a hamstring issue. Prior to that injury, Ortiz had thrown ten consecutive scoreless innings. He’s even had a couple of no-hit starts this year, although they only lasted five innings before he was pulled from the game. This is by design as he has his pitch counts and innings limited to prevent injury or arm fatigue.

What Does The Future Hold For Ortiz?

Ortiz is only 21 years old and the former first round pick has moved quickly up the organizational ladder. Expect Ortiz to stay at Biloxi for the rest of the season and make the jump to Triple-A in 2018. He should receive his first call-up to the Major Leagues at some point in the 2018 season.

Ortiz’s projections paint him as a future #2 starter in a Big League rotation. He can continue to hit 97 MPH with his fastball deep into games and his slider is nasty. They both project as plus pitches for Ortiz. His changeup has also developed into an average third offering.

MLBPipeline ranks Ortiz as the 53rd best prospect in all of baseball. With his success this season, Ortiz figures to rank even higher on this list after the midseason update of the list in July.

Next: What's Brewers Prospect Lucas Erceg Been Up To?

Luis Ortiz will play a key role in the Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation of the future. There are plenty of reasons to look forward to his arrival. He is the Brewers top right-handed pitching prospect and should join the team as early as next season.