He was so bad in 2001 that he spent most of the year in AAA. He was a whole different guy when he came back: bigger and suddenly more of a power hitter.
Only 14 games in the minors in 2001 - I’m pretty sure they were rehab assignments. I think that’s the year he broke his hamate bone in his wrist.
Also, his ISO (Isolated Power: TB-H/AB) was higher in 2001 than in 2002.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=ortiz-001dav