Blue Jays may have found a diamond in the rough in Willy Ortiz

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 29: A ball sits in a glove in the dugout prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals on Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium on March 29, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 29: A ball sits in a glove in the dugout prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals on Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium on March 29, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Toronto Blue Jays made an under the radar signing that did not garner much attention back in December, however, it is one that could pay dividends in the future.

On December 10th, 2018 the Blue Jays inked 23-year old pitcher Willy Ortiz to a minor-league pact with an invitation to spring training, not a bad opportunity for a kid who hasn’t pitched past High-A ball.

The native of the Dominican Republic was an International signing of the Tampa Bay Rays back in 2012. Ortiz would debut professionally as a 16-year old and spend the next three seasons in the Dominican Summer League.

In 2018, Ortiz pitched in High-A with the Charlotte Stone Crabs making 18 appearances, 14 of which were starts. Ortiz boasted a 6-2 record with a 3.74 earned run average while fanning 73 in 84.1 innings of work. He also represented the Stone Crabs in the 2018 Florida State League All-Star Game last season.

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The young hurler would miss the final two months of the season with an injury before electing free agency in November. Although he will probably begin the season in Double-A New Hampshire, the Blue Jays assigned Ortiz to Triple-A Buffalo in the interim.

Ortiz sports an impressive 33-10 record with a 3.26 earned run average in 83 career games including 66 starts. Not a bad stat line for a low-risk MILB signing.

The lanky right-hander features a mid to high nineties fastball coupled with a low 80’s slider and a changeup in his repertoire. Although the Jays have been relatively quiet this offseason they have made some nice high-upside additions in Ortiz and Elvis Luciano.

Luciano is ranked 28th by MLB.com on the Blue Jays Top 30 organizational prospect rankings, while Ortiz has yet to make the list. We will get a first-hand look at both youngsters when spring training breaks in less than a month, of course, Luciano has to remain on the active 25-man roster due to the Rule 5 stipulations.

The Ortiz signing went completely unnoticed but has the potential to pay big dividends for the rebuilding Jays in the very near future.

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