Shairon Martis Stats & Scouting Report

IP	116.0
ERA	5.35
WHIP	1.397
BB/9	4.3
SO/9	5.0

Full name Shairon Benjamin Martis
Born 03/30/1987 in Willemstad, Curaçao
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School St. Joseph
Debut 09/04/2008

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Acquired from the Giants in the 2006 Mike Stanton trade, Martis has made a name for himself in international competition. He threw a seven-inning no-hitter for the Netherlands against Panama in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, then anchored the Dutch pitching staff in the 2008 Olympics, where he went 0-2, 6.75 and led the team in strikeouts (11) and innings (11). Shortly after returning from Beijing in late August, he was called up to Washington, where he held his own in four starts. Martis is aggressive and throws strikes with an 89-92 mph fastball that tops out at 93. He commands his fastball well in the zone, and it has some life. His best pitch is an above-average changeup with sink and tail at 80-82 mph, and he can throw it in any count. He throws two breaking balls and is inconsistent with both. He occasionally shows an average slider, but he often struggles to finish the pitch, causing it to lack depth and bite. Some prefer his curveball, though he needs to tighten it. Martis gets by more on savvy and competitiveness than on pure stuff, and his upside is limited to back-of-the-rotation starter. He could reach that ceiling sometime in 2009, though he figures to start the season in Triple-A.
Acquired from the Giants in the 2006 Mike Stanton trade, Martis has made a name for himself in international competition. He threw a seven-inning no-hitter against Panama in the World Baseball Classic, then made two strong starts to help the Netherlands win the European Olympic qualifier tournament in Spain this fall. Martis posted a 0.82 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 11 innings for the Dutch, on the heels of a careerhigh 151-inning season. He lacks overpowering stuff, but he commands a solid four-pitch repertoire and mixes his pitches and locations well. He works at 89-91 mph with his fastball and uses a sinking two-seamer to induce grounders. He can throw his plus changeup for a strike in any count, though he's still working on his two breaking balls. His slider has more promise, but he's more comfortable with his curveball at this stage. A good athlete with a commanding mound presence and impressive feel for pitching, Martis has a good shot to reach the big leagues as a back-of-the-rotation starter, though his upside is limited. He'll pitch in Double-A as a 21-year-old in 2008.
Martis made a name for himself in the World Baseball Classic last March by throwing a no-hitter for the Netherlands against a Panama team that included Carlos Lee, Olmedo Saenz and Ruben Rivera. The 10-0 win was shortened to seven innings by the tournament's mercy rule, allowing Martis to complete the game in 65 pitches--the limit allowed by WBC rules. Martis then held his own in the low Class A South Atlantic League, and the Nationals acquired him from the Giants for reliever Mike Stanton in July. With a loose arm and an advanced feel for pitching for his age, Martis looked good in a late-season stint in high Class A. He pitches in the low 90s with a solid-average fastball, touching 94, and he could add velocity as he matures. His changeup became his best pitch over the last year, an above-average pitch with fade and deception. Martis needs to improve his inconsistent breaking ball, which tends to get slurvy. Given time, he has the solid repertoire and mound presence to be a No. 3 starter in the big leagues. He'll start back at high Class A in 2007.
The Giants' Arizona League club was one of the minors' most successful teams, posting a 39-17 record and winning the league title for the second consecutive year. The cast changed and was much younger last season, featuring righthanders Waldis Joaquin and Martis as teenage flamethrowers. Martis and slick-fielding AZL shortstop Sharlon Schoop both signed out of Curacao. Martis looks like the better prospect at this point because of his live arm and Schoop's suspect bat. Martis doesn't quite have Joaquin's arm, but he's not far off with a fastball that reaches the mid-90s. His curveball shows signs of being a solid pitch, and he throws a slider and a changeup as well. While his arm action is relatively smooth and fluid, his delivery has issues in terms of maintaining balance and incorporating his entire body. He'll have to polish his mechanics to earn a spot in low Class A to start the year.

Minor League Top Prospects

Martis and shortstop Sharlon Schoop grew up together in Curacao--one of nine nations represented on the Giants' AZL roster. Mature, confident and poised for an 18-year-old, Martis made a successful adjustment in his first season playing in the United States. He won just two games because he made only one start that went as long as five innings. His average of 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings was the best in the AZL for pitchers working at least 30 innings. He worked hitters aggressively with a mid-90s fastball and an above-average curve, and continues to develop a changeup.