Angel Martinez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #6 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Martinez reached Triple-A Columbus as a 21-year-old in 2023, making him one of the youngest everyday players in the International League. His rise since the pandemic has been meteoric. Martinez’s professional experience coming into 2021 was limited to the Dominican Summer League and instructional league, but his experience around baseball--his father is former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, now the Nationals’ DSL manager, and his older brother Sandy Martinez Jr. also played professionally--likely eased his transition.
  
  Scouting Report: Martinez isn’t the most tooled-up of Cleveland’s middle infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields with solid power potential, though it plays as doubles pop now. Martinez is a disciplined hitter and makes a lot of contact, priding himself in his ability to make quick adjustments at the plate. After initially struggling in pro ball versus lefthanders, he has improved dramatically as a righthanded hitter as he has matured. Martinez is an average runner but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. He also has worked hard to improve his arm strength, which now grades as plus. Martinez can play anywhere on the infield and in 2023 mostly played second base at Double-A Akron and then mostly third base in Columbus, with a solid amount of time at shortstop at both spots. That versatility should help him find a spot in Cleveland.
  
  The Future: Martinez has consistently been one of the youngest players at his level, and the way Cleveland has challenged him is indicative of how advanced he is. He’ll return to Columbus to start 2024 and could find himself in the mix to be called up later in the season.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #8 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Martinez made the biggest jump of any Guardians' position prospect in 2021 and then built on that progress in 2022, reaching Double-A Akron as a 20-year-old and then playing every day as one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League. Martinez's rise has been meteoric for a player whose professional resume coming into 2021 was limited to the Dominican Summer League and instructional league. His experience around baseball likely eased his transition. His father is former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, now the Nationals' DSL manager, and his older brother is Sandy Martinez Jr., who also played professionally.
  
  Scouting Report: Martinez isn't the most tooled-up of Cleveland's middle infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields with solid power potential, though it plays as doubles pop now. He's a disciplined hitter and makes a lot of contact. He prides himself in his ability to make quick adjustments at the plate. After struggling against lefthanders in 2021, he made significant strides with his righthanded swing in 2022, evening his splits. Martinez is an average runner but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts, and he makes sound decisions defensively. He also has worked hard to improve his arm strength, which now grades out as plus. He can play anywhere on the infield and primarily played shortstop at High-A Lake County before playing mostly second base at Akron in deference to Jose Tena.
  
  The Future: Martinez has consistently been one of the youngest players at his level, and the way Cleveland has challenged him is indicative of how advanced he is. He'll return to Akron to start 2023 and should find himself Cleveland's infield mix in the next couple years.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #10 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, now the Nationals’ Dominican Summer League manager. The younger Martinez signed with Cleveland for $500,000 in 2018 and was limited to the DSL and instructional league his first two seasons, but he made the biggest jump in the Guardians system of any position player prospect in 2021. He moved to Low-A Lynchburg and held his own as a 19-year-old, getting off to a fast start before slowing down in the second half.
  
  Scouting Report: Martinez isn’t the most tooled-up of the Guardians’ lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields with solid power potential, though it plays as doubles pop now. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. He also has a plus arm. He can play anywhere on the infield and split his time between second, third and shortstop.
  
  The Future: Martinez’s switch-hitting ability, power potential and defensive versatility make for a promising foundation, although he still has a long way to go. He’ll head to High-A in 2022 and look to build on his previous gains.
  
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #29 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, who now is the Nationals' Dominican Summer League manager, and his older brother Sandy Martinez Jr. is a prospect in the D-backs system. As a result, Angel grew up around the diamond and has an advanced understanding of the game. He made his professional debut in 2019 in the DSL and impressed as a 17-year-old. He came to the Indians' complex in Arizona for instructional league in 2020
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez isn't the most toolsy of the Indians' lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline and walked as much as he struck out in the DSL--a rarity--and has good physicality that plays as doubles power. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. That, as well as his plus arm, gives him a chance to stay at shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Martinez could make a jump in 2021 as he makes his U.S. debut.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #20 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, and his older brother Sandy Martinez Jr. is a prospect in the D-backs system. As a result, Angel grew up around the diamond and has an advanced understanding of the game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez isn't the most tooled out of the Indians' lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline and walked as much as he struck out in the DSL – a rarity – and has good physicality that plays as doubles power. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. That, as well as his plus arm, gives him a chance to stay at shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gabriel Rodriguez is the most famous member of the Indians' 2018 international signing class and his impressive physical tools have him ranked higher on this list. But Martinez isn't far behind and has a chance to make a jump in 2020 as he makes his American debut in the Arizona League.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Martinez made the biggest jump of any Guardians' position prospect in 2021 and then built on that progress in 2022, reaching Double-A Akron as a 20-year-old and then playing every day as one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League. Martinez's rise has been meteoric for a player whose professional resume coming into 2021 was limited to the Dominican Summer League and instructional league. His experience around baseball likely eased his transition. His father is former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, now the Nationals' DSL manager, and his older brother is Sandy Martinez Jr., who also played professionally.
  
  Scouting Report: Martinez isn't the most tooled-up of Cleveland's middle infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields with solid power potential, though it plays as doubles pop now. He's a disciplined hitter and makes a lot of contact. He prides himself in his ability to make quick adjustments at the plate. After struggling against lefthanders in 2021, he made significant strides with his righthanded swing in 2022, evening his splits. Martinez is an average runner but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts, and he makes sound decisions defensively. He also has worked hard to improve his arm strength, which now grades out as plus. He can play anywhere on the infield and primarily played shortstop at High-A Lake County before playing mostly second base at Akron in deference to Jose Tena.
  
  The Future: Martinez has consistently been one of the youngest players at his level, and the way Cleveland has challenged him is indicative of how advanced he is. He'll return to Akron to start 2023 and should find himself Cleveland's infield mix in the next couple years.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
  
  Track Record: Martinez made the biggest jump of any Guardians' position prospect in 2021 and then built on that progress in 2022, reaching Double-A Akron as a 20-year-old and then playing every day as one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League. Martinez's rise has been meteoric for a player whose professional resume coming into 2021 was limited to the Dominican Summer League and instructional league. His experience around baseball likely eased his transition. His father is former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, now the Nationals' DSL manager, and his older brother is Sandy Martinez Jr., who also played professionally.
  
  Scouting Report: Martinez isn't the most tooled-up of Cleveland's middle infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields with solid power potential, though it plays as doubles pop now. He's a disciplined hitter and makes a lot of contact. He prides himself in his ability to make quick adjustments at the plate. After struggling against lefthanders in 2021, he made significant strides with his righthanded swing in 2022, evening his splits. Martinez is an average runner but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts, and he makes sound decisions defensively. He also has worked hard to improve his arm strength, which now grades out as plus. He can play anywhere on the infield and primarily played shortstop at High-A Lake County before playing mostly second base at Akron in deference to Jose Tena.
  
  The Future: Martinez has consistently been one of the youngest players at his level, and the way Cleveland has challenged him is indicative of how advanced he is. He'll return to Akron to start 2023 and should find himself Cleveland's infield mix in the next couple years.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, now the Nationals&#39 Dominican Summer League manager. The younger Martinez signed with Cleveland for $500,000 in 2018 and was limited to the DSL and instructional league his first two seasons, but he made the biggest jump in the Guardians system of any position player prospect in 2021. He moved to Low-A Lake County and held his own as a 19-year-old, getting off to a fast start before slowing down in the second half.
  
  Scouting Report: Martinez isn&#39t the most tooled up of the Indians&#39 lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields with solid power potential, though it plays as doubles pop now. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. He also has a plus arm. He can play anywhere on the infield and split his time between second, third and shortstop.
  
  The Future: Martinez&#39s switch-hitting ability, power potential and defensive versatility make for a promising foundation, although he still has a long way to go. He&#39ll head to High-A in 2022 and look to build on his previous gains.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, now the Nationals’ Dominican Summer League manager. The younger Martinez signed with Cleveland for $500,000 in 2018 and was limited to the DSL and instructional league his first two seasons, but he made the biggest jump in the Guardians system of any position player prospect in 2021. He moved to Low-A Lynchburg and held his own as a 19-year-old, getting off to a fast start before slowing down in the second half.
  
  Scouting Report: Martinez isn’t the most tooled-up of the Guardians’ lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields with solid power potential, though it plays as doubles pop now. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. He also has a plus arm. He can play anywhere on the infield and split his time between second, third and shortstop.
  
  The Future: Martinez’s switch-hitting ability, power potential and defensive versatility make for a promising foundation, although he still has a long way to go. He’ll head to High-A in 2022 and look to build on his previous gains.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, who now is the Nationals' Dominican Summer League manager, and his older brother Sandy Martinez Jr. is a prospect in the D-backs system. As a result, Angel grew up around the diamond and has an advanced understanding of the game. He made his professional debut in 2019 in the DSL and impressed as a 17-year-old. He came to the Indians' complex in Arizona for instructional league in 2020
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez isn't the most toolsy of the Indians' lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline and walked as much as he struck out in the DSL--a rarity--and has good physicality that plays as doubles power. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. That, as well as his plus arm, gives him a chance to stay at shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Martinez could make a jump in 2021 as he makes his U.S. debut.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, who now is the Nationals' Dominican Summer League manager, and his older brother Sandy Martinez Jr. is a prospect in the D-backs system. As a result, Angel grew up around the diamond and has an advanced understanding of the game. He made his professional debut in 2019 in the DSL and impressed as a 17-year-old. He came to the Indians' complex in Arizona for instructional league in 2020
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez isn't the most toolsy of the Indians' lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline and walked as much as he struck out in the DSL--a rarity--and has good physicality that plays as doubles power. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. That, as well as his plus arm, gives him a chance to stay at shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Martinez could make a jump in 2021 as he makes his U.S. debut.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, who now is the Nationals' Dominican Summer League manager, and his older brother Sandy Martinez Jr. is a prospect in the D-backs system. As a result, Angel grew up around the diamond and has an advanced understanding of the game. He made his professional debut in 2019 in the DSL and impressed as a 17-year-old. He came to the Indians' complex in Arizona for instructional league in 2020
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez isn't the most toolsy of the Indians' lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline and walked as much as he struck out in the DSL--a rarity--and has good physicality that plays as doubles power. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. That, as well as his plus arm, gives him a chance to stay at shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Martinez could make a jump in 2021 as he makes his U.S. debut.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, and his older brother BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme Sandy Martinez Jr. is a prospect in the D-backs system. As a result, Angel grew up around the diamond and has an advanced understanding of the game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez isn’t the most tooled out of the Indians’ lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline and walked as much as he struck out in the DSL – a rarity – and has good physicality that plays as doubles power. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. That, as well as his plus arm, gives him a chance to stay at shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gabriel Rodriguez is the most famous member of the Indians’ 2018 international signing class and his impressive physical tools have him ranked higher on this list. But Martinez isn’t far behind and has a chance to make a jump in 2020 as he makes his American debut in the Arizona League.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez, and his older brother Sandy Martinez Jr. is a prospect in the D-backs system. As a result, Angel grew up around the diamond and has an advanced understanding of the game.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Martinez isn't the most tooled out of the Indians' lower-level infielders, but his baseball IQ and maturity make all his tools play up. The switch-hitter has a simple swing from both sides and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline and walked as much as he struck out in the DSL – a rarity – and has good physicality that plays as doubles power. Martinez is an average runner, but still covers a lot of ground thanks to his instincts and makes sound decisions defensively. That, as well as his plus arm, gives him a chance to stay at shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gabriel Rodriguez is the most famous member of the Indians' 2018 international signing class and his impressive physical tools have him ranked higher on this list. But Martinez isn't far behind and has a chance to make a jump in 2020 as he makes his American debut in the Arizona League.