While most of the players the Nationals acquired in the Mackenzie Gore trade are still a few years away from the majors, Abimelek Ortiz is the exception. He may not have the upside or athleticism of the other players in the trade, but Ortiz has proven he can shred. We’ll likely see Ortiz’s bat in the Nationals lineup at some point in 2026.
Toboni expressed the same sentiment when talking about the deal. He said we could see Ortiz at first base or DH in the majors this year. Ortiz did play some outfield action last season, but Toboni seemed to view him as a 1B or DH type. It makes sense for Toboni to view him that way, considering his stocky frame at 5-foot-10, 230 pounds.
Scouts actually thought he looked surprisingly good in the outfield in the Arizona Fall League, but range was always a limiting factor. He’s a decent defender at first base, but not elite by any means. The idea of ​​a 5-foot-10 first baseman is a little scary to me. He just can’t pitch at the high level that a typical 6-foot-4 first baseman can.
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All of this means Ortiz will have to work his ass off to become an impact major leaguer. He did that at the minor league level. Ortiz hit 33 home runs in 2023 across two levels of A ball, putting his name on the map. Ortiz has an up-and-down year in 2024 in a more pitcher-friendly Double-A environment.
However, Ortiz returned to form in 2025, especially after a mid-season promotion to 3A. The slugger hit 16 home runs and a .787 OPS in 89 games at Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A. In a more hitter-friendly environment, Ortiz broke out, hitting nine home runs in 41 games and posting an OPS of .953. Ortiz hit 25 home runs this season.
His batting data also reached the AAA level. Ortiz absolutely crushed baseball, with a hard-hit rate of nearly 55%. He also has the knack of pulling the ball in the air, which allows him to do damage. Ortiz’s hitting profile is exactly what you want in a slugger.
Ortiz turns 24 at the end of February, so this isn’t a case of a 20-something pop abusing triple-A. However, Ortiz could very well be one of those Four-A sluggers like Andres Chaparro.
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However, he will get a chance to prove himself in the major leagues. If Ortiz has a strong camp, he could make the MLB roster. There is not much competition for 1B or DH representation right now. That could change if the Nats sign someone like Rhys Hoskins, but that hasn’t happened yet.
In my opinion, Ortiz has a chance to be a strong platoon player at first base or DH. Ortiz has struggled with left-handed pitching since entering the senior ranks. He finished below .200 against them the past two seasons. However, he hasn’t had any issues with right-handed pitching.
Ortiz has a lot in common with fellow first baseman Roddy Tellez. While Tellez has never been a star, he has been in the league for nearly a decade and hit 35 home runs during the 2022 season. Not bad for the fourth team in the trade.
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It’s also possible Ortiz is better than this. In order for Ortiz to be better than Telaez, he needs to be more selective with his at-bats. In Triple-A, his chasing rate was 29 percent, which is a little higher than you might think. He had an 11.7% walk rate last year, but he can still improve his approach further.
Bomb-hitting round sluggers may never spark the most wars, but they can be a solid part of your team. These types of players are also likely to be beloved by fans. I mean who doesn’t love a big guy who can crush. He’s never going to be a .300 hitter, but Ortiz has less power than your average big-man crusher.
Abimelek Ortiz may never be more than a Four-A slugger. Mediocre plate discipline and a lack of true positioning may ultimately cost him. I wouldn’t count him out, though. The former undrafted free agent has overcome all odds to get to this point. I’m really rooting for Ortiz because if everything comes together, he could be a very interesting player.
