Atlanta Braves Minor League Spotlight: Rafael Ortega shows why it’s never too late

While he’s not considered an Atlanta Braves prospect, that doesn’t mean it’s too late for Rafael  Ortega to get better.

Rafael Ortega, a 27-year-old outfielder in the Atlanta Braves minor league system, is becoming a great story early this season.

In almost any field of work, whether it be in the private sector or in professional sports, there are jobs and duties that can go unappreciated. You know, the jobs that no one really pays attention to; roles that are part of a bigger picture and are done behind the scenes.

This is also very true in baseball.

For one, organizations like the Atlanta Braves must obviously fill their Minor League teams — that’s a given. But, there’s a little more to it than just warm bodies making up a team.

Here’s where organizational players come into play.

These players not only provide depth for minor and major league rosters, but they also provide all sorts of positive influences to the organization; influences for the actual prospects, as well as competition that can impact the development of the organization’s top-tier talent.

While he has played in 109 big league games, for three different Major League teams, Rafael Ortega has mostly been considered an organizational player.

At the prime age of 27-years-old, this isn’t his first time grinding down in the minors.

A career value of -0.9 fWAR in the Major Leagues may not display much in terms of excitement when it comes to a player like Ortega, but that’s the point: his value comes in a much different way.