Carlos Cortes living up to hype in freshman season

Ranked the No. 27 player by PerfectGame in the 2016 class, he came to Columbia as one of the best pure hitters in the freshman class. He’s showing why in his first trip though SEC play plus much more.

Before settling into the lineup as the everyday designated hitter, he saw some struggles at the plate. On March 25, he was hitting 5-for-30 (.167) with just two RBIs.

Then, at Auburn, he found a consistent spot in the lineup and things changed.

“He’s just swinging the way he’s capable of. He’s not putting too much pressure on himself,” head coach Chad Holbrook said. “He knows he’s going to be in there everyday, and maybe that helps too. You’re seeing what kind of hitter he is. That bodes well for us if we can get some other guys going.”

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In the 10 games he’s started since being left out of the starting lineup against The Citadel, he’s hitting .340 (16-for-47) and has chiseled himself into the No. 2 spot in the order.

Cortes has scored or driven in 24 of the 50 runs the Gamecocks have scored in that span.

He’s now hitting .293 and has on base percentage hovering near 34 percent. He hit three home runs in two games against Mississippi State, including a game-tying blast in Sunday’s 6-1 win.

“We’re going to expect more out of him to continue to improve and get better and continue to produce runs like he has been,” infielder Madison Stokes said. “We’re proud of him and the other guys that are producing runs. He’s done a great job. He’s an extremely talented kid. We’re glad he’s on our team.”

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Holbrook remembers when Cortes came to camps at South Carolina as an eighth grader belting home runs onto Williams Street past right field.

Back then he went by the nickname “Lil Bambino,” given to him by one of travel team coaches. Now he goes by Boogie, a nickname gifted to him by first baseman Matt Williams. While it’s a different nickname, he’s still producing the same kind of results.

“It’s good, but it’s not the only thing that I want,” Cortes said about his power hitting streak. “It’s not my only goal for this team.”

But hitting isn’t all that “Boogie” can do, Holbrook said. Cortes has started five games in left field for the Gamecocks and played centerfield Sunday after Danny Blair was pinch-hit for in the seventh inning.

Holbrook said he’s seeing over the past 10 games the full potential and breadth of what Cortes can do; it starts at the plate, he says, but extends to the field as well. He pointed out the freshman’s savvy on the base path and his instincts, which is unique for a freshman.

“The game comes easy to him. He thinks it every step of the way. He’s got great instincts when it comes to playing the game of baseball,” Holbrook said. “I think he was labeled a great hitter only. You look at his body and you think he’s only a hitter. He’s more than just hit. It’s nice we’re going to have him around for a couple years.”

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The Gamecocks, who are hitting .274 as a team and have left 268 runners on base this season, will use his bat almost every day in the lineup. He’s produced at every spot he’s been placed.

He’s hit at the top, middle and bottom of the order and has had results, saying it’s the same pitches coming to the same batter’s box.

Holbrook said if more players produced like Cortes, the Gamecocks’ offense can be a fine-tuned machine.

“We have some good hitters that haven’t been performing up to their capabilities,” he said. “If they all do just a little bit more, we have a chance to be a good offensive team. I’ve been saying that and I’ll say it until the last game of the year. Carlos is giving us some energy.”