Each jump throughout a baseball farm system comes with challenges of its own, but there might not be a more significant jump than that of A-ball to Double-A, where several MLB-ready prospects are stewing and waiting for their chance at The Show.
On Monday morning in Frisco, Luis Ortiz made his maiden voyage through a Double-A lineup, and the results were pretty spectacular for the 20-year-old pitcher who was the Rangers' top draft pick in 2014 out of a California high school.
The hard-throwing righty allowed one run while scattering seven hits in six innings of work. He struck out six San Antonio hitters and walked just one.
Ortiz is still a ways away from being considered for the big club, and quite frankly, could be showcasing for a blockbuster deal this summer, but if his first Double-A outing was any sign, the Rangers got a good one.