LORAIN — Cleveland native Carlos Ortiz took his talents south to attend North Carolina Central University last fall, but he has returned to Northeast Ohio for the summer.
Ortiz, 19, is an alumnus of Cleveland’s Lincoln West High School, where he hit .547 and was named team captain and Most Valuable Player. He led the Lincoln West Wolverines to four championship games, which included two championship titles his junior and senior seasons. In 2013, he tossed a one-hitter during the Senate Athletic League championship game.
Now an outfielder, Ortiz completed his freshman season at North Carolina Central this past year and is playing with the Lorain County Ironmen, who defeated the Richmond RiverRats, 3-0, July 11. His high school success carried over to the collegiate diamond.
Ortiz said he found his way onto the North Carolina Central roster when the Eagles coaching staff spotted him while scouting one of Ortiz’s teammates. Though Ortiz had been eyeing other schools, the Eagles made him a full-tuition offer he couldn’t refuse.
One season with the Eagles left Ortiz with the title of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. He also earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and second team All-MEAC honors.
Ortiz said the success he has seen through his high school and collegiate careers can be attributed to supportive coaches, friends and family.
‘I’ve always had really good coaches,’ Ortiz said. ‘I’ve got people around me that helped me. They always kept pushing me and that’s why I’ve always been pretty successful.’
Crafting a rousing resume before the age of 20 has been a motivator, Ortiz said. However, with great talent comes lofty expectations – and a little added pressure.
‘It just helps you keep working harder,’ he explained. ‘It kind of just gives you a title. Now that people see you a certain way, you’ve got to keep performing to show how and why you got those awards.’
His first collegiate season drew Ortiz far from home, the longest amount of time he has spent from Cleveland. The transition was tough he said, but Ortiz had some familiar faces in the Durham area.
‘I had a host family out there because I was invited to try out for Team USA my sophomore to junior year,’ he said. ‘I knew them out there, so they kind of helped me throughout the process.’
Now, Ortiz has come home for the summer to showcase his talents with the Ironmen. He said his college coach mentioned some collegiate leagues and Ortiz found the Prospect League just 30 miles from home.
As of July 11, Ortiz has hit .181 through 25 games with the Ironmen. He went 1-for-3 July 11 with a hard-hit single to center and scored the Ironmen’s first run. Struggle may be relatively new to him, but so are the wooden bats used in the Prospect League. Ortiz said the heavier weight of the wooden bat makes a sizeable difference from the aluminum sticks he’s used to.
‘It’s taken me a little longer to adjust than I thought,’ he noted.
While he adjusts to a new bat, Ortiz is maintaining his focus of staying on top of the ball in his swing. He said he has a tendency to drop his hands and produce pop-ups.
Another difference Ortiz has noticed between the MEAC and Prospect League is the current crop of opposing arms.
‘I’ve probably seen a lot more consistent, better pitching here than what I have out in North Carolina,’ Ortiz explained.
A month and a half of the season remains and Ortiz said his goal is to make an impact before his return to Durham.
‘I just want to finish strong so I can head back to school with some confidence in me,’ he said.
Before Ortiz makes the trek south, he said he’s enjoying his moments at home, where he spends his free time cutting hair for friends and family. His hobby has even earned him the nickname ‘The Barber’ from his teammates.
Ortiz commutes from Cleveland to Lorain for games so that he can live at home and keep his Cleveland roots. He also said he’s glad LeBron James is doing the same.
‘I think it’s [James’ return to the Cavaliers] great,’ Ortiz said.
Ortiz will head back to school in mid-August and he hopes he will make the trip with more confidence and additional bullet points on his resume. Durham may be 550 miles away, but he knows he’s always welcome home.
Ironmen win
The Lorain County Ironmen defeated the Richmond RiverRats, 3-0, on July 11 on Morning Journal Night at The Pipe Yard.
Starting pitcher J.T. Brubaker, a New Carlisle, Ohio, native and University of Akron junior, tossed seven scoreless innings for the Ironmen, relinquishing one hit and three walks as he fanned four.
It took nearly five innings for the Ironmen to score. With one out in the fifth, Ortiz singled up the middle and advanced on a single by left fielder Addison Rospert. A fielder’s choice and an error on the following play allowed Ortiz to score. Two batters later, Milan, Ohio, native Taylor Emody continued his 10-game hit streak with a two-run single for the 3-0 lead.
Emody, who was named to the Eastern Division All-Star Team, has hit .308 with one home run through 30 games this summer.