Follow the Prospects: Brayan Cortesia, SS

[imref]

Born: 11/14/2007, Venezuela
B/T: R/R
6'1", 165lbs
ETA: 2030

https://www.mlb.com/player/brayan-cortesia-829049?stats=career-r-hitting-minors&year=2025

Signed as an international free agent in January of 2025. Was ranked #14. $1.92 million signing bonus.

mlb.com scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Venezuela has been a recent hot spot for slick fielding shortstops who have made early impacts in their big league careers, namely Ezequiel Tovar (Rockies) and Brayan Rocchio (Guardians). Cortesia, who has begun to fill out his 6-foot-1 frame, is molded in a similar vein. He comes from a family of athletes -- his brother was a member of the Venezuelan national track and field team. Described as a “baseball rat” whose intensity and work ethic garner plus marks, he offers oodles of projection as he acclimates to the pro game.

Equipped with a level right-handed swing, Cortesia sprays the ball to all fields. While his power has come on as he has aged, he deploys more of a bat-to-ball approach at this stage. There is optimism that as he continues to fill out, he could get to that pop more often with consistency, especially against higher velocity.

The superlatives for Cortesia begin defensively. Viewed as a long-term surefire shortstop as his professional career gets underway, he showcases soft hands, good feet and an above-average arm to boot. His overall athleticism -- which includes 60-yard dash times clocked as low as 6.5 seconds -- portend to him getting an extended look at the six.

https://www.mlb.com/news/brayan-cortesia-a-five-tool-player-nationals-say

“Cortesia is a guy that we believe is a five-tool player and can play shortstop,” Nationals director of international operations Victor Rodriguez said on a Zoom call. “Very exciting physical upside, above-average athlete that’s going to be an above-average runner. Pretty much, all the tools across the board are above average with a chance to hit for power.”
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“The foot speed ties into the entire offensive game,” Rodriguez said. “At the end of the day, you can't steal first, obviously. But we believe that the run tool can lead to some extra bases, can be a threat on the basepaths, and just be a guy that can really impact on all aspects of the offensive side.”

[welch]

Can he hit? Or is he another light-hitting Dominican SS, like Armando Cruz?

[imref]

Can he hit? Or is he another light-hitting Dominican SS, like Armando Cruz?

way too soon to tell. He's only 17.