Nolan Martinez Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Nolan Riley Martinez
Born 06/30/1998 in Culver City, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 165 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Culver City
Drafted in the 3rd round (98th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2016 (signed for $1,150,000).

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Martinez was born and raised in Culver City, just west of central Los Angeles, but has committed to San Diego State as a two-way player, picking the Aztecs because he wants to hit and pitch. Scouts prefer him on the mound, though he has enough pop and athleticism to potentially be a contributor at an infield corner for the Aztecs. Martinez has some twitchiness to his thin frame (he's listed at 6-foot-3, 165 pounds) and a quick arm that had him throwing 93 mph in the summer but bumping up to 95 mph this spring. Trackman measured his fastball with the highest spin rate of all pitchers at the massive World Wood Bat Association even in Jupiter in October 2015. He still sits more typically at 87-93 with the fastball, and has flashes of throwing his breaking ball (generally described as a slider) both with power in the upper 70s and for strikes. He doesn't use his changeup much, but his athleticism and two potential above-average pitches have him with early-round helium.

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Martinez was a two-way player at Culver City (Calif.) HS just outside Los Angeles throughout his career, but scouts preferred him as a pitcher. The Yankees agreed with that assessment, drafted him in the third round and gave him a $1.15 million signing bonus to sway him from a San Diego State commitment. His fastball was measured with the highest spin rate the World Wood Bat Association event in Jupiter, Fla., that typically closes the showcase season. The pitch typically sits in the 87-93 mph range but reached 95 mph the summer before he was drafted. His primary offspeed pitch is a curveball in the upper-70s that flashes plus. He can land the pitch for strikes and use it to get chases as well. He has a changeup but, like most dominant high school pitchers, didn't need it to get outs against prep competition. He will continue developing the pitch as a professional to fulfill his starter's potential. Further, the Yankees want to add strength to Martinez's frame to help him handle a starter's workload as he develops. They'll be patient, but they believe he has massive potential as he matures. Martinez will likely spend 2017 at Rookie-level Pulaski.

Martinez was born and raised in Culver City, just west of central Los Angeles, but has committed to San Diego State as a two-way player, picking the Aztecs because he wants to hit and pitch. Scouts prefer him on the mound, though he has enough pop and athleticism to potentially be a contributor at an infield corner for the Aztecs. Martinez has some twitchiness to his thin frame (he's listed at 6-foot-3, 165 pounds) and a quick arm that had him throwing 93 mph in the summer but bumping up to 95 mph this spring. Trackman measured his fastball with the highest spin rate of all pitchers at the massive World Wood Bat Association even in Jupiter in October 2015. He still sits more typically at 87-93 with the fastball, and has flashes of throwing his breaking ball (generally described as a slider) both with power in the upper 70s and for strikes. He doesn't use his changeup much, but his athleticism and two potential above-average pitches have him with early-round helium.