Blue Jays Nation’s Pre-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 2: Orelvis Martinez

Photo credit:Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

4 months ago

And then there were two.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual pre-season list, in which I’ll take a look at the top 50 prospects in the organization. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publications’ scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at Orelvis Martinez.

Getting to know Orelivs Martinez…

Position: Second base/Third base/Shortstop

Bats: Right

Born: November 19, 2001

Acquired: 2

2023 Team: 2018 International Free Agency

Previous Ranking: 2

The Blue Jays signed Martinez to a signing bonus of $3.5 million during the 2018 free agency, with the infielder making his debut the next season. In 2019, he slashed .275/.352/.549 with seven homers in 163 plate appearances, along with an 8.8 BB% and a 17.8 K% for a 150 wRC+. His impact was immediate, as he showed off crazy power as a 17-year-old.

With the global pandemic, he and every other minor leaguer, missed the entire 2020 season, but started the 2021 season in Single-A. With Dunedin, he slashed .279/.369/.572 with 19 homers in 326 plate appearances, along with a 10.1 BB% and a 26.1 K%. He earned a late-season call up to High-A, where he slashed .214/.282/.491 with nine homers in 125 plate appearances.

However, Martinez’s stay in High-A was a short one, as the Jays were aggressive with him to start the 2022 season, promoting the then 20-year-old to Double-A. There, he had a mixed season where he slashed .203/.286/.446 in 492 plate appearances. Not great, but his 30 home runs were the second most in Double-A that season, with no one around him being near his age.

Martinez started the 2023 season in Double-A where he started the first month and a bit slashing .089/.169/.266 with six homers, but turned his season around and slashing .247/.344/.505 with 30 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A.

The 22-year-old ranks as Fangraphs’ second-best Blue Jays prospect and their 66th-best prospect in Baseball. TSN’s Scott Mitchell also has him ranked as Toronto’s second-best prospect, as does Baseball America who also ranks him as their 90th-best prospect in baseball.

Fangraphs’ bio notes that his power is best suited to his pull side, and he’s already made several adjustments throughout his minor league career. The power is legitimate and his approach has improved significantly in 2023. His defensive home is a little more questionable, playing shortstop, third base, and second base in 2023 but mainly playing second base once reaching Triple-A.

There’s a pathway for Martinez to make the big leagues this season, as both third base and second base could use a regular at the position. For that to happen, Martinez will need to have a strong Spring Training and start Triple-A hitting homers.