Clearwater Threshers’ corner outfielder Jhailyn Ortiz is ready to move on up in the Phillies system especially after hitting a tape measure home run over the bleachers in Bradenton this morning. We watched Ortiz hit his 16th long ball of the season on MiLB.TV. In his last 10 games he is hitting near .300. He is now third in homers and second in RBIs with 51 in the entire Florida State League.
Jhailyn Ortiz comes home after his grand slam earlier in the season
Ortiz’s 16 home runs represents a career high in his four-year Phillies minor league career. He already has broken his former high of 47 RBIs from last season in about 100 fewer at bats this season. He is only playing at baseball age 20 and will not turn 21-years-old until November so the future looks even brighter for the big right-handed power bat.
The Ortiz home run this morning broke a 28 inning scoreless streak by the slumping Threshers. His bat will play even better in the more hitter friendly Reading ballpark. The Fightins are currently leading the Eastern Division in the Eastern League’s second half.
We have been impressed this season by Ortiz’s outfield play. He has not been charged with an error playing 53 games in right field and 8 games in left field for the Threshers.
If the Phillies are looking for a future right-handed power bat for the other corner outfield position to compliment Bryce Harper sometime during his 13-year contract, he just might be named Jhailyn Ortiz.
