Major League Scouting Report: Cleveland Guardians’ Luis L. Ortiz

When spring training begins, Cleveland Guardians pitching coach, Carl Willis, will have a full plate.

This offseason, the Guardians traded for two intriguing pitchers.

The team has added right-handers Luis L. Ortiz, and Slade Cecconi to their pitching roster.

To this old scout, both Ortiz and Cecconi show excellent promise, with both having upside remaining.

Both need the teaching and assistance Willis can provide.

Ortiz came to Cleveland from the Pittsburgh Pirates, in a trade for first baseman, Spencer Horwitz.

Cecconi was traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to Cleveland for first baseman Josh Naylor and Arizona’s 2025 Competitive Balance Round B pick.

For now, this writer will concentrate on Luis L. Ortiz.

To begin, Ortiz will not be eligible for arbitration until 2027, and free agency until 2030.

Team control is a huge factor in the Guardians management philosophy.

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About Luis L. Ortiz:

To this scout, the acquisition of Ortiz exemplifies the role scouts play in an organization.

It is quite probable Guardians scouts have had their eyes on Ortiz for some time.

Ortiz may have solidified Cleveland’s interest in him when he started a 3-0 shutout of the Guardians, on August 31, 2024.

In that game, Ortiz went six innings; yielding only one hit, and three walks. He struck out five.

Now 25, Ortiz was an international free agent from the Dominican Republic, signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in October 2018.

Ortiz was 19-years-old at the time he signed, which is a bit older than many players signing international contracts.

The Pirates gave Ortiz a $25,000 signing bonus.

Large-bodied and strong, at 6-5, 235 pounds, Ortiz should have the stamina to withstand the rigors of an entire season at the big league level.

Ortiz started his career pitching at rookie-level Bristol in 2019.

The Pirates were encouraged, as Ortiz ramped up his fastball to 100 miles per hour in his development.

Ortiz made his major league debut September 13, 2022, at the age of 23.

In parts of three seasons with the parent Pirates, Ortiz was up and down between the minor and major league clubs.

Ortiz has pitched 238.1 major league innings, covering 59 games. Only 34 of those were as the starting pitcher.

Last season, Ortiz went 7-6, with a 3.32 ERA, and 1.11 WHIP in 15 starts. He also pitched two games in relief. He threw 135.2 innings.

Ortiz struck out an average of 7.1 hitters, while walking 2.8, per nine innings.

Scouting Luis L. Ortiz:

There is no question Ortiz has the physicality to eat innings and be a very credible starter at the big league level.

Ortiz has a deep, and well developed repertoire that fangraphs.com lists this way:

Four-seam fastball=96.2 miles per hour, used 27.3%

Cutter=91 miles per hour, used 11%

Sinking fastball=95.4 miles per hour, used 26%

Slider=86 miles per hour, used 29.7%

Changeup=89.8 miles per hour, used 6%

In 2022, Ortiz threw his two-seam fastball fairly consistently at 98.4 miles per hour.

His velocity has dipped a bit, but he still has an impressive arsenal.

The issue with Ortiz is not his arm strength, health, or depth of repertoire.

The major issues with Ortiz are his command and control.

Can he consistently throw strike one, which is the most important pitch in baseball?

Can he throw enough strikes to stay ahead of hitters?

Can he throw any of his pitches at any point in the count?

It isn’t only walks that hamper pitchers. In fact, it is the quality of pitches they make when behind in the count that tip the scale.

Not having to groove a pitch down the middle of the plate in order to recover in the count is crucial.

Last year, Ortiz yielded 16 homers in those 135.2 innings.

Scouting Grade:

For this scout, Ortiz is an average starting pitcher, or a Grade 50.

Ortiz has the physicality, the temperament, and the ability to achieve a grade beyond that of an average starter.

According to Fangraphs.com, Ortiz will slot fourth in the Guardians rotation.

If Ortiz improves his command and control under the watchful tutoring of Carl Willis, the Guardians may have uncovered a true gem for their rotation for the present, and into the future.