Fabio Martinez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #13 prospect in 2012
  Martinez rocketed to No. 6 on this list two years ago on the strength of a mid-90s fastball and gaudy strikeout numbers. He carried elevated strikeout and walk ratios to low Class A in 2010 but missed the final month of the season with shoulder tendinitis. The injury lingered into 2011, and he spent most of the season on the disabled list while attempting to rebuild strength in his shoulder. He returned to action in the Rookie-level Arizona League on Aug. 17, but a comebacker broke a bone in his ankle in just his second relief appearance. He missed instructional league as a result. In a system chock full of hard throwers, Martinez stands out when he's at his best. Using a high arm slot, he throws a 90-96 mph fastball that touches 98. He pairs his heater with a low-80s slider that features extreme horizontal tilt. Martinez pitches to the radar gun and shows little feel for changing speeds, so he hasn't fully embraced a changeup. Busy, hard-to-repeat mechanics do his control and command no favors. Rather than risk losing him in the Rule 5 draft, the Angels added Martinez to the 40-man roster in November. Because he hasn't been at full strength since July 2010, a full and healthy season in high Class A in 2012 would be an accomplishment. Los Angeles hasn't given up on him as a starter, but his power stuff and lack of control and durability eventually may lead him to the bullpen, where he has upside as a closer.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #8 prospect in 2011
  Martinez and Jean Segura have distinguished themselves as the system's top two international talents since signing out of the Dominican Republic in early 2007. Martinez burst on the U.S. scene in 2009 by leading the Arizona League in strikeouts (92). He was on pace to repeat the feat in the Midwest League last season, but he missed the final month of the season with shoulder tendinitis. The scouting consensus on Martinez boils down to: great stuff with marginal pitchability. He obsesses over radar-gun readings, seeking to overpower the opposition. His fastball sits at 90-96 mph, with a few 98s thrown in, though his arm slot is so high that his heater tends to be straight. Because he overthrows, he doesn't locate his fastball well, often missing up in the zone and running into trouble with walks. Martinez's low-80s slider can be devastating, featuring so much tilt at times that it resembles a splitter. He gained more confidence in his circle changeup last season, but it's still below-average. Martinez's love for lighting up the radar gun, poor command and busy, hard-to-repeat delivery point to a future in the bullpen. His two plus pitches are up to the task. He returned to the mound in instructional league, and he'll head to the Angels' new high Class A Inland Empire affiliate in 2011.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #6 prospect in 2010
  The Angels discreetly signed Martinez as a 17-year-old in April 2007, but more than a year elapsed before anybody took notice. Following up on a forgettable pro debut, he dominated Rookie-level Dominican Summer League competition in 2008 with 93 strikeouts in 76 innings. Martinez took another giant step forward in 2009, leading the Arizona League with 92 strikeouts and a .197 opponent average. Arm strength separates Martinez from the pack. He pitches at 93 mph, touches 96 with his four-seamer and holds that velocity deep into games. Tall, lean and projectable, he generates good downhill plane from his high three-quarters arm slot. He has the potential to have an average two-seam fastball and a plus slider. Martinez's command comes and goes. He gets a lot of swings and misses on high fastball that more advanced hitters will lay off. He could get more lateral movement on his fastball if he lowered his arm slot slightly. He needs to stay on top of his slider more consistently, and his workable changeup needs more refinement than any of his pitches. Slow and deliberate to the plate, he's vulnerable to basestealers. He could improve his composure on the mound by not wearing his emotions on his sleeve. If Martinez refines his command, he has true top-of-the- rotation stuff. He'll make the jump to low Class A in 2010.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Midwest League #14 prospect in 2010
  Martinez led the Rookie-level Arizona League in strikeouts last year and would have done the same in the MWL had he not missed the final month with shoulder tendinitis. He regained strength in his shoulder by the end of the season, when he threw 94 mph in a simulated game. He loves to throw his four-seam fastball, which runs from 90-96 mph and peaks at 98, and can get it by hitters up in the zone. They can't sit on it because his low-80s slider gives him a second swing-and-miss pitch. A starter for most of his career, Martinez profiles better as a reliever. He has a lot of moving parts to his delivery and doesn't repeat it well, costing him control and command. He also lacks an effective offspeed pitch, because he doesn't trust his changeup and throws it too hard.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #2 prospect in 2009
  One of the top pitchers in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2008, Martinez was dominant at times in his first season in the United States. He led the AZL with 92 strikeouts in 61 innings, showing the ability to carry a mid-90s fastball deep into games. His slider is a plus-plus pitch at times, and his changeup gives him a potential third above-average offering. Martinez often struggles with his command, however, leading to inconsistency. Already 6-foot-3, he's still getting bigger and should do a better job of throwing strikes once he grows into his body. Angels pitching coach Trevor Wilson compared him to Merkin Valdez, whom he coached in the Giants system.

• December, 2009 Scouting Report
  The Angels discreetly signed Martinez as a 17-year-old in April 2007, but more than a year elapsed before anybody took notice. Following up on a forgettable pro debut, he dominated Rookie-level Dominican Summer League competition in 2008 with 93 strikeouts in 76 innings. Martinez took another giant step forward in 2009, leading the Arizona League with 92 strikeouts and a .197 opponent average. Arm strength separates Martinez from the pack. He pitches at 93 mph, touches 96 with his four-seamer and holds that velocity deep into games. Tall, lean and projectable, he generates good downhill plane from his high three-quarters arm slot. He has the potential to have an average two-seam fastball and a plus slider. Martinez's command comes and goes. He gets a lot of swings and misses on high fastball that more advanced hitters will lay off. He could get more lateral movement on his fastball if he lowered his arm slot slightly. He needs to stay on top of his slider more consistently, and his workable changeup needs more refinement than any of his pitches. Slow and deliberate to the plate, he's vulnerable to basestealers. He could improve his composure on the mound by not wearing his emotions on his sleeve. If Martinez refines his command, he has true top-of-the- rotation stuff. He'll make the jump to low Class A in 2010.