30!!!!!! 30 HOMERS FOR ORELVIS MARTINEZ (@OrelvisMartine3) He's insane, just trails the AA lead by one. #BlueJays #NextLevel
Blue Jays Nation’s Mid-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 2: Orelvis Martinez
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro - USA Today
Sep 26, 2024, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 26, 2024, 11:37 EDT
The best power hitter in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization once again ranks as the second-best prospect in our countdown.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Mid-Season top prospect list, where we’ll look at the 35 best prospects in the Blue Jays system. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publication’s scouting reports if available.
Let’s take a look at our second-best prospect, Orelvis Martínez!
Getting to know Orelvis Martínez…
Position: Third base/Second base
Bats: Right
Born: November 19, 2001
Acquired: 2018 International Free Agency
Previous ranking: 2
The Blue Jays signed Orelvis Martínez to a signing bonus of $3.5 million during the 2018 international free agency period. In 2019, Martínez slashed .275/.352/.549 with seven home runs in 163 plate appearances, along with an 8.6 BB% and a 17.8 K%.
However, it was the 2021 season where Martínez broke out, as he slashed .279/.369/.572 with 19 home runs in 326 Single-A plate appearances, along with a 10.1 BB% and a 26.1 K%. Upon his promotion to High-A, Martínez slashed .214/.282/.491 with nine home runs in 125 plate appearances, bringing his season total 28 home runs.
Martínez hit even more home runs the following season, as he mashed 30 of them in Double-A as a 20-year-old. Still, it was his worst season to date, as he slashed .203/.286/.446 in 492 plate appearances, along with an 8.1 BB% and a 28.5 K%.
Starting the year in Double-A once again, Martínez had a rough first month, but managed to finish his tenure with a slash line of .226/.339/.485. Moreover, he hit 17 home runs in 292 plate appearances, along with an improved walk rate (14%) and a significant drop in his strikeout rate (20.5%).
The improvements continued once he was called up to Triple-A Buffalo, as he slashed .263/.340/.507 with 11 home runs in 246 plate appearances, along with a 10.6 BB% and a 26.8 K%.
Martínez had a great season in 2024 when he was on the field, slashing .267/.346/.523 with 17 home runs in 319 plate appearances in Triple-A. Moreover, he registered his first hit in the big leagues, but was suspended shortly after for 80 games due to PED usage. For the first time since 2019, Martínez didn’t lead the Blue Jays’ minor leaguers in home runs, falling four short of the leader, Damiano Palmegiani.
Tonight's Highmark Highlight is brought to you by Orelvis Martinez!
It’s unfortunate, too, as the Blue Jays would’ve been able to see what they have in Martínez given the season they’re having. If he can continue to drop the strikeout rate, there’s certainly a spot for the 22-year-old on the roster in the future, given the pop in his bat. However, the Jays hope to contend in 2025, so who knows how much playing time Martínez will receive.
Martínez ranked as MLB Pipeline’s second-best Blue Jays prospect in their mid-season update. His best tool by far is his power, as he does a terrific job pulling the ball. On top of that, the hit tool has improved drastically since the end of the 2022 season, as his approach has improved while he is better at taking a walk. Defensively, he usually plays second base or third base, as he’s too slow for shortstop.
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As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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