Ethan Martin

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #6 prospect in 2014
  BA's 2008 High School Player of the Year has endured a lot in his pro career, struggling significantly with control issues early in his career with the Dodgers. The Phillies acquired him for Shane Victorino in 2012, and Martin made his big league debut in 2013. He was hammered as a starter before moving to the bullpen in September. Armed with a live arm and clean delivery, Martin has a four-pitch repertoire that includes a fastball that sits at 92-93 mph and touches 95 as a starter. His fastball plays up to 97 in shorter stints. He throws both a downer curveball that he struggles to command consistently, as well as a slider that flashes plus and a straight changeup. While his curve tends to be in the low 70s, his slider at times features cutter action and reaches 87 mph. Martin has below-average command that regressed in 2013, and he has averaged 5.5 walks per nine innings as a professional. With the big league rotation in flux, particularly from the right side, Martin has a great chance to start in Philadelphia. His main challenge will be throwing strikes consistently. If he succeeds, Martin could find himself in the back end of the rotation. If not, he'll still probably be a weapon out of the bullpen.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #6 prospect in 2013
  The first high school pitcher selected in the 2008 draft, Martin went 15th overall and signed for $1.73 million. He had sporadic success in four years in the Dodgers system, but made strides in 2012 before coming to the Phillies along with Josh Lindblom in a July deal for Shane Victorino. After splitting time between the rotation and bullpen in the past, Martin was exclusively a starter last season. Athletic yet unrefined, Martin has an effortless delivery, a loose arm action and the potential for three plus pitches. He operates anywhere from 91-97 mph with his fastball, mostly sitting at 93-95 with late two-seam life. His best secondary pitch is an 85-88 mph slider that's almost like a cutter. He didn't use his 72-75 mph curveball much in relief, so it's still developing, but it has sharp, late break. He also shows feel for an 82-84 mph fading changeup. Martin has average-at-best control and even shakier command. He gets in trouble with high pitch counts, though his 2012 walk rate (4.5 per nine innings) was a career best. With his variety of weapons and a history of durability, Martin has the ceiling of a solid mid-rotation starter, but his struggles to throw consistent strikes could push him to the bullpen. Placed on the 40-man roster in November, he should spend 2013 in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #17 prospect in 2012
  When Martin's high school senior season began in 2008, some teams wanted him for his power and athleticism as a third baseman, while others were attracted to his big arm on the mound. By June, most clubs preferred him as a pitcher and the Dodgers made him the first prep arm taken. The 15th overall choice, he signed for $1.73 million. Martin was raw even by the standards of a high school draft pick and got shelled in high Class A for most of the last two years, but his potential still sticks out. He still throws a mid-90s fastball with life in the zone, and he has an extra gear to get it up to 98 mph. He has a curveball that shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch with good rotation, but it's inconsistent. Last season, he added an 82-84 mph slider that shows occasional tilt and grades as an average offering at times, though it also tends to break too early. He has shown some feel a fading 84-86 mph changeup, which has a chance to be average. Martin's lack of pitchability and command have been his downfall. He rushes his delivery and struggles to repeat it despite efforts to improve his direction and timing. Los Angeles wanted to get Martin out of the unforgiving California League and did so by sending him to Double-A as a reliever late last June. He had a 3.29 ERA in that role for Chattanooga, though he still had trouble finding the zone. Because he has an array of promising pitches, the Dodgers will return him to the rotation in Double-A this year. He maintains the ceiling of a No. 2 starter but has a long way to go.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #9 prospect in 2011
  Martin was a highly rated prospect in high school as both a pitcher and a power-hitting third baseman. He also could have been a college quarterback but opted to sign with the Dodgers for $1.73 million as the 15th overall pick in 2008. He had a rough 2010 at high Class A Inland Empire, losing seven consecutive starts to end his season. Martin is one of the best athletes in the system and has an effortless delivery with a loose arm. When he's at his best, his fastball sits at 94-95 mph and can reach as high as 98. He had trouble maintaining that velocity last year, dipping to the low 90s at season's end. When he throws it for strikes, Martin's curveball is a wipeout pitch. He also has a changeup with slight sinking action that's a work in progress at this point. His command held him back in 2010, when he led the California League with 81 walks. He'd fall prey to big innings when he'd struggle with his mechanics and start leaving his fastball up in the zone. Martin still has the ceiling of No. 2 starter if he can improve his command. He could end up starting 2011 back in high Class A, but could move quickly one he puts everything together.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #4 prospect in 2010
  Baseball America's High School Player of the Year and the first prep pitcher drafted in 2008, Martin tore the meniscus in his right knee during a fielding drill shortly after signing for $1.73 million. He had arthroscopic surgery, delaying his pro debut until last April. Many teams considered drafting him as a power-hitting third baseman. Martin's fastball sits at 93-95 mph and occasionally touches 97. He has good movement on the pitch, and he can make it sink or cut. His big-breaking curveball is a potential plus second pitch. He's very athletic and does a good job of repeating his delivery. Martin lacks command of his pitches, particularly his curveball, which he bounces in the dirt too frequently. Though his fastball usually has good life, it flattens out on him at times. He has struggled to get the feel for a changeup because of inconsistent arm speed with the pitch. His arm action is long in back, leading some scouts to project him as a reliever. Martin should move up to high Class A Inland Empire in 2010. The Dodgers won't rush him because of his inexperience, but he has the stuff to move quickly once he harnesses it. He projects as a No. 2 starter or dominant late-game reliever with a major league ETA of 2012.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #3 prospect in 2009
  As a high school quarterback and star third baseman/pitcher in high school, Martin never suffered a serious injury. He won BA's 2008 High School Player of the Year award, went 15th overall in the draft (he was the first prep pitcher taken) and signed for $1.73 million. Then at the Dodgers' postdraft minicamp, he tore the meniscus in his right knee when he slipped covering first base during a fielding drill. He returned in instructional league but has yet to make his official pro debut. A good athlete who could have been drafted in the second round as a slugging third baseman, Martin stands out most with his arm strength. His fastball ranges from 90-96 mph, sits at 92-94 and has bat-breaking run and sink. He has the makings of a power curveball with depth, tilt and hard rotation. Due to his past as a hitter, Martin remains raw as a pitcher and missed needed development time thanks to his knee injury. He must clean up his delivery and his changeup also needs a lot of work. Martin needs lots of innings to close the gap between his current ability and his potential as a frontline starter. He has a good chance to make his debut in low Class A and could advance quickly once things start coming together.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked California League #15 prospect in 2010
  The 2010 season was one to forget for Martin as well as the entire Inland Empire team. The 66ers finished dead last, 31 games out of first place in the Southern Division, and the first high school player drafted in 2008 turned in the worst performance of his young career. Martin paired a 95-96 mph fastball with an equally effective, big-breaking curveball during a strong April. But as the season wore on, his fastball velocity dipped into the low 90s, and he lost movement on the pitch and left it up in the strike zone. He also struggled to locate his curveball with any regularity. "He was throwing balloons up there," the NL scout said. "His velocity dropped off. His movement dropped off. His curveball bite dropped off. He got tired. I can't explain it. His fastball was still in the 92-94 range, but straight as a string." Martin's changeup remains a work in progress. He needs to learn not to just rely on his fastball when he gets into trouble, and he must improve the command and control of all three of his pitches.
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  Ranked Midwest League #10 prospect in 2009
  The first high school pitcher drafted in 2008, Martin tweaked his knee during a postdraft minicamp, delaying his pro debut until this spring. He has an electric arm but is still figuring out how to use it, no surprise considering that he was more highly regarded as a third baseman until his senior season. Martin has an explosive 93-95 mph fastball that touches 97. His heater features good sink at times and cuts in on lefties at others, though it also flattens out on him. He'll spin some hard, nasty curveballs, though he struggles to throw his breaking ball for strikes. His changeup is less refined, and his long arm action in back has some scouts wondering if he's destined to be a power reliever.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The first high school pitcher selected in the 2008 draft, Martin went 15th overall and signed for $1.73 million. He had sporadic success in four years in the Dodgers system, but made strides in 2012 before coming to the Phillies along with Josh Lindblom in a July deal for Shane Victorino. After splitting time between the rotation and bullpen in the past, Martin was exclusively a starter last season. Scouting Report: Athletic yet unrefined, Martin has an effortless delivery, a loose arm action and the potential for three plus pitches. He operates anywhere from 91-97 mph with his fastball, mostly sitting at 93-95 with late two-seam life. His best secondary pitch is an 85-88 mph slider that's almost like a cutter. He didn't use his 72-75 mph curveball much in relief, so it's still developing, but it has sharp, late break. He also shows feel for an 82-84 mph fading changeup. Martin has average-at-best control and even shakier command. He gets in trouble with high pitch counts, though his 2012 walk rate (4.5 per nine innings) was a career best. The Future: With his variety of weapons and a history of durability, Martin has the ceiling of a solid mid-rotation starter, but his struggles to throw consistent strikes could make him destined for the bullpen. Placed on the 40-man roster in November, he should spend 2013 in Triple-A.