JORGE CORTES

10/17/80; NDFA '97; Colombia
L/L; 6-0, 169

Level
BA
OBP
SA
AB
2B
3B
HR
BB
K
SB
CS
1999 R
.301
.385
.366
93
4
1
0
14
19
2
 
2000 A-
.202
.289
.335
173
11
0
4
20
48
0
2
2001 A-
.254
.329
.386
189
17
1
2
20
25
2
2
2002 A
.254
.343
.390
59
3
1
1
7
11
1
1
2002 A-
.328
.426
.427
253
14
4
1
44
20
7
7
2003 A+
.264
.315
.333
129
6
0
1
11
25
1
1
2003 A
.325
.427
.475
345
24
2
8
56
47
9
5
2004 AA
.281
.338
.482
139
8
1
6
13
24
0
1
2004 A+
.292
.385
.435
260
20
1
5
37
48
1
2
2005 AA
.259
.349
.364
363
18
1
6
49
81
2
1
2006 AA (Hou)
.294
.366
.428
456
31
3
8
50
64
4
7
2007 AAA (ChiC)
.333
.556
.500
6
1
0
0
3
0
0
0
2007 AA (ChiC)
.293
.394
.376
348
19
2
2
56
56
7
2
2008 AAA
.169
.278
.217
83
1
0
1
11
18
1
1

Cortes signed a minor league deal for 2008, which means he'll be returning to the organization he started with.  For a long time was one of the most interesting players in the system, but as a player whose skills weren't matched by physical ability, he seemed to hit a ceiling in AA.  He always had a very advanced approach at the plate, with excellent knowledge of the strike zone.  He was limited, though, as a small guy with only gap power and not much speed. It took him three years to master the NY-Penn League, then he followed up his strong 2002 season with an MVP season at Hickory, finishing second in batting and once again posting an outstanding BB/K ratio.  Cortes adjusted more slowly to high A, then didn't hit well in his one full season at Altoona and moved on as a minor league free agent.  He hit better and continued to show very good plate discipline in 2006-07, but without the power expected from a corner OF.

Defensively, Cortes doesn't have a lot of range, although the Pirates tried him in CF to make him more versatile, and sometimes he can be shaky in tracking flyballs.  He has a decent arm and recorded 21 assists in 2003.  The Pirates assigned him to Indianapolis as a backup outfielder, but he spent part of the season injured and played only sporadically when he was healthy. He obviously didn't hit at all.  He's not likely to return.

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