Born09/01/1990 in Santa Lucia Edo Miranda, Venezuela
ProfileHt.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
In the July 2011 trade that sent Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Tigers, Martinez came to the Mariners along with Charlie Furbush, Chance Ruffin and Casper Wells. He ranked among each team's Top 10 Prospects the previous two years, but his first full season in the Seattle system was one to forget. He missed a month with a left hamstring strain and was anemic at the plate, posting the second-lowest slugging percentage (.295) in the Southern League among batting qualifiers. Martinez has a quick bat and projects to be an average hitter, but he needs to tone down his swing and be more consistent. He doesn't have profile home run power for a corner spot, though he has the stroke and speed to hit plenty of doubles and triples. His plus speed is actually his best tool, and he ranked third in the system with 28 steals in 2012. Because of his speed, the Mariners tried Martinez in center field for 15 games last year. He should be at least an average defender wherever he winds up, with arm strength to match. He was one of the youngest players in the Southern League last year, so repeating Double-A is a no-brainer.
When the Mariners shipped Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Tigers in July, Seattle got four players in return. Charlie Furbush, Chance Ruffin and Casper Wells already have reached the majors, but Martinez was the key to the deal. He made the jump to Double-A at age 20 last year and looked like he belonged. Martinez has all the raw tools to fit the profile of an everyday third baseman, with the added bonus of plus speed. Live-bodied and athletic, he has excellent bat speed and a knack for hitting the ball on the screws. The ball explodes off his bat when he gets extended and makes contact, and he projects as a .275 hitter with 15-20 homers annually. Martinez shows soft hands and solid arm strength at third base. He must continue to refine all parts of his game, such as improving his feel for the strike zone, improving his jumps on the bases and becoming more reliable on defense (he made 35 errors in 2011). With Martinez, Vinnie Catricala and Alex Liddi, the Mariners have a logjam at third base in the upper minors. Martinez is the best prospect and the best hot-corner defender of that group, so the position should be his at Tacoma in 2012. Seattle protected him on the 40-man roster in November.
Though he previously hadn't played higher than the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Martinez spent the last week of 2009 in high Class A and returned there last May at age 19. He has played against older competition since he was a child, so the Tigers figured he could handle the assignment. He survived and Detroit continued to challenge him by sending him to the Arizona Fall League. Martinez has a good frame with present strength and projection remaining. He has all the raw tools of a prototypical third baseman, with the added bonus of above-average speed. With a quick bat and a flat swing path, he produces a lot of hard groundballs and line drives. While he hit just three homers in 2010, he should have solid over-the-fence power as he continues to physically mature and learns to deal with more experienced pitchers. Martinez has soft hands and a strong arm at third base, but he needs to clean up his footwork and cut down on mental mistakes. He made 17 errors in 86 games last season. Martinez should get his first taste of Double-A in 2011 and could be ready to take over third base for the Tigers when Brandon Inge's contract expires after the 2012 season. If Nick Castellanos is as good as advertised, Martinez may have to move to the outfield.
Minor League Top Prospects
Martinez was a key piece used to acquire Doug Fister from the Mariners in a deal that helped propel the Tigers to the AL Central crown. Martinez has impressive all-around tools but lacks polish because he has been rushed, though Detroit's approach to his development most likely made him attractive trade bait. Live-bodied and athletic, Martinez has a chance to have an impact bat if he can add more discipline to his approach. He has excellent bat speed and plus raw power, and the ball explodes off his bat when he gets extended and makes contact. He also has average arm strength at third base and plus speed on the basepaths. Martinez must refine all aspects of his game, from his inconsistent defense to his inefficient basestealing to his control of the strike zone. "He showed me a knack for the barrel and good plate coverage," the first AL scout said. "He's a high-ceiling player, and he really had no business being in Double-A but he held his own."
Though Martinez turned 20 as the season ended, he's still quite raw. He jumped straight to Lakeland from the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, leading scouts to say he would have been better suited for a short-season circuit, but he held his own in high Class A. "He's got a great body. He has a ton of room to grow," McCullough said. "He has some strength and athleticism. He already doesn't swing at a lot of bad pitches. There's a ton of projection because of his size and what his body can turn into." Martinez should start to tap into his power potential once he develops a more consistent swing. He's also has above-average speed and the tools to be at least an average third baseman. He has a strong arm but need to clean up his footwork and take better angles to balls.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Defensive 3B in the Eastern League in 2011
Scouting Reports
Background: When the Mariners shipped Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Tigers in July, Seattle got four players in return. Charlie Furbush, Chance Ruffin and Casper Wells already have reached the majors, but Martinez was the key to the deal. He made the jump to Double-A at age 20 last year and looked like he belonged.Scouting Report: Martinez has all the raw tools to fit the profile of an everyday third baseman, with the added bonus of plus speed. Live-bodied and athletic, he has excellent bat speed and a knack for hitting the ball on the screws. The ball explodes off his bat when he gets extended and makes contact, and he projects as a .275 hitter with 15-20 homers annually. Martinez shows soft hands and solid arm strength at third base. He must continue to refine all parts of his game, such as improving his feel for the strike zone, improving his jumps on the bases and becoming more reliable on defense (he made 35 errors in 2011).The Future: With Martinez, Vinnie Catricala and Alex Liddi, the Mariners have a logjam at third base in the upper minors. Martinez is the best prospect and the best hot-corner defender of that group, so the position should be his at Tacoma in 2012.
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