Full 2024 #BlueJays draft class. A couple notes: -Sounds like R2 Stephen under-slot; R12 Messina over-slot. -R16 Colby Martin with easy 99 mph gas as a reliever.
Toronto Blue Jays Prospect Profile: Right-handed reliver Colby Martin

Jul 19, 2024, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 20, 2024, 12:43 EDT
It’s time for another Prospect Profile, and this time, we’ll look at one of the newest Blue Jays.
The 2024 MLB draft has completed, and while there are a ton of interesting new prospects that’ll be injected into the organization, there is arguably not a more interesting prospect than the prospect we’ll look at today, Colby Martin.
Getting to know Colby Martin
Before the Blue Jays drafted him with the 487th pick in the draft, Martin started his collegiate career with Messiah University, a NCAA Division III school. A position player at the time, he only appeared in six games and slashed .188/.278/.250 in 18 plate appearances with two RBI.’
Understandably, he transferred to Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, where he slashed .482/.544/.788 with eight homers in 204 plate appearances, along with seven double, 14 doubles and higher BB% (13.7 BB%) than K% (9.8 BB%). The 2022 season also saw him debut as a pitcher, where he had a 7.04 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched along with a 35.1 K% and a 16.2 BB%.
Unfortunately, he missed all of the 2022 season as he had Tommy John surgery, but he came back with a force in 2023 with the bat, slashing .390/.494/.590 with six homers in 247 plate appearances, along with a 16.6 K% and an 8.1 BB%. On the mound, he wasn’t great, as he had a 16.20 ERA in 1.2 innings pitched, with three strikeouts and four walks.
According to this Lancaster Online article, the San Diego Padres were in agreement with Martin to sign as an undrafted free agent, but pulled out after taking a look at his MRI and “didn’t like the way the surgery looked”. It’s also worth mentioning that the article notes that Martin showed his doctor the MRI, with the doctor saying “it looks perfectly fine”.
Martin transferred to Southeastern University of the NAIA and gave up on hitting. As a reliever for the team, he posted a 4.41 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched, but had a crazy 43.1 K% with a 15.3 BB%.
So what’s to be excited about with a 16th-round selection? Well, Martin features a high-90s fastball that has touched 102 mph according to the same article. He also features a curveball, sinker, and changeup, but his athleticism allows him to reach that velocity easily.
Time will tell how he’ll do, or even if he’ll sign with the Blue Jays (seemingly likely). However, Martin is an incredibly interesting reliever to keep an eye on, because the velocity is great and he’s a great story.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D
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