15. Carlos Cortes, LF
B/T: L/B Age: 23 (6/30/1997)
Height: 5’7’’ Weight: 197
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft
ETA: 2022 Previous Rank: 17
2020 Stats (Binghamton): .257/.332/.487, 26 2B, 3B, 14 HR, 57 RBI, SB, 2 CS
When Cortes was a third round draft pick in 2018, he was seen more as a novelty with his being a switch fielder. When in left field, he threw his natural left-handed. However, in an attempt to make it as a professional, he learned to throw right-handed so he can play second.
We are now at the point in his minor league career where he has moved from a novelty to a legitimate prospect. To a certain extent, we saw him treated more as such with the second base experiment all but abandoned with him playing zero games at second in Binghamton. As Cortes is a Rule 5 eligible player who could be selected whenever this lockout ends, there may still be teams who believe in him there.
Truth be told, a large part of the move to the outfield was the arm. While it was admirable for Cortes to try to throw right-handed, the arm isn’t where it needs to be. While he can make the routine plays at the position, the range and instincts just aren’t there. With the lack of arm strength, he also doesn’t have the arm to try to afford him deeper positioning or shifting to help cover up his deficiencies.
In the outfield, he’s more of a natural. However, he is hampered a bit by below average speed for the position. Also, while he throws much better left-handed, you would still prefer a stronger arm in a corner outfield position. That said, his play in the outfield or second would be deemed acceptable for someone who can hit, and Cortes can hit.
Mets AA prospect Carlos Cortes takes a swing at the first pitch he sees and hits his first homer of the year.
Rumble Ponies lead, 3-0. @Mets_Minors pic.twitter.com/kIQLkxQsE0
— Cam Adams (@byCamAdams) May 21, 2021
Cortes knows how to get the bat on the ball and do damage. One thing which is truly remarkable is Cortes is the rare minor league player who has actually seen his wRC+ improve at each level he has played. In 2021, he had a 120 wRC+ for Binghamton. What is remarkable there is that probably resembles more of his moving towards but not yet reaching his ceiling.
Cortes has a line drive approach with raw power. While aggressive at the plate, he does not swing wildly. He makes solid contact, and we have seen him reduce his ground ball rate over the past season. With more balls hit into the air, we did see Cortes improve his power numbers as evidenced by his .230 ISO and his 12.7% HR/FB. This is all indicative of the improvements he’s made at the plate and how much more he can still yet improve.
This is the type of bat which will help Cortes make his way to the majors, and that may well happen in 2022. As alluded to earlier, Cortes is Rule 5 eligible, and it’s very possible a team may select him. More than that, if Cortes keeps improving at the plate, he is going to force his way to the majors at some point, especially now that there is a universal DH.
Exactly what Cortes will be at the Major League level remains to be seen. While his versatility at second and the outfield gives him multiple paths there, it may just be more indicative that his defensive liabilities will render him a utility player. If he is to be that, it would behoove the Mets to give him more of a look at first and maybe even third while he is in Syracuse.
Regardless of where he will eventually play, it is going to be the bat which is going to get Cortes to the majors. In many ways, he’s the Mets most major league ready hitter at the plate, and in a system short on upper level outfield talent, his chances of making the majors are greater there in the short term. In the long term, Cortes just needs to keep hitting.
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