Ranking The 10 Best Players Mike Martin Coached At FSU

Image credit: J.D. Drew (Focus On Sport/Getty Images)

Among the players Martin has coached are dozens of All-Americans and big leaguers, three College Player of the Year winners, a first overall draft pick in both MLB and the NFL and one NFL Hall of Famer. Here are Baseball America’s picks for the 10 best players he’s coached over the last 40 years.

1. Buster Posey, C

The 2008 College Player of the Year, Posey hit .463/.566/.879 with 26 home runs as a junior. Posey and J.D. Drew are the two best players in the last 40 years of Florida State history. Posey famously came to FSU as a shortstop and played there his freshman year before converting to catcher at the advice of Mike Martin Jr. He immediately took to the position and has gone on to star for the Giants.

2. J.D. Drew, OF

The 1997 College Player of the Year, Drew is the only player in NCAA history with a 30-30 season. His POY season is remarkable—he hit .455/.604/.961 to go with 31 homers and 32 stolen bases, but his first two years were standout as well. Drew was drafted second overall in 1997 and fifth overall in 1998 after he didn’t sign the first time. He went on to have a 14-year career in the big leagues.

3. Jeff Ledbetter, OF/1B

The 1982 College Player of the Year, Ledbetter hit a then-NCAA record 42 home runs as a senior in 1982 and finished his career with a then-record 97 career homers. His professional career peaked at Double-A.

4. Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B

Mientkiewicz is the only player to lead Florida State in hitting for three straight seasons. He finished his college career as a career .348 hitter and hit .371/.490/.706 with 19 home runs as a junior. Mientkiewicz went on to play 12 years in the big leagues and won a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2004.

5. Stephen Drew, SS

Stephen didn’t shine quite as brightly as his older brother J.D., but he had an impressive career in his own right. He was a three-time All-American and finished his college career as a .354 hitter. Drew was drafted 15th overall in 2004 and went on to play 12 years in the big leagues.

6. Paul Wilson, RHP

Martin has coached 18 first-round draft picks but Wilson is the only one to go No. 1 overall, which he did in 1994 when the Mets selected him after an All-American season that saw him go 13-5, 2.08 with 161 strikeouts in 143 innings. Wilson twice ranked as a BA Top 100 Prospect and spent seven seasons in the big leagues.

7. Luis Alicea, SS

A native of Puerto Rico, Alicea shone during his Florida State career, earning first-team All-America honors as a junior in 1986 and hitting .341/.435/.507 during his career. He was drafted 23rd overall by the Cardinals and went on to play 13 years in the majors.

8. Mike Loynd, RHP

The 1986 Golden Spikes Award winner, Loynd that season went 20-3, 2.46 and struck out 223 batters in 164.2 innings. His name is all over Florida State’s record book and its Tradition Room bears his name.

9. Marshall McDougall, 2B

McDougall is best remembered for his six-home run game, which still stands as an NCAA record. But he had a phenomenal 1999 season, hitting .419/.496/.804 with 28 home runs. He was named Most Outstanding Player at the CWS that year, despite Florida State finishing as runner-up.

10. Mike Fuentes, OF

The 1981 Golden Spikes Award winner, Fuentes was Martin’s first superstar. He hit .408/.500/.755 with 21 homers as a junior in 1980, Martin’s first year as head coach, and then hit .353/.447/.657 with 27 home runs the following spring.