Leonys Martin Stats & Scouting Report

AB	308
AVG	.305
OBP	.41
SLG	.63
HR	29

Full name Leonys Martin
Born 03/06/1988 in Villa Clara, Cuba
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
Debut 09/02/2011

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A backup to Yoenis Cespedes on Cuba's 2009 World Baseball Classic squad, Martin defected the following year and signed a five-year, $15.6 million major league deal in May 2011. Among Triple-A Pacific Coast League players with at least 250 plate appearances, he ranked second in hitting (.359) and third in on-base percentage (.422) and slugging (.610) in 2012. He missed five weeks after tearing a ligament in his left thumb in May. The Rangers say Martin has more power than he gets credit for, and he hits home runs with ease during batting practice. They would like him to tone down his swing and focus more on lining balls to the gaps, however, in order to take advantage of his plus speed. That attribute also boosts his average via bunts and infield hits as well as providing him with solid range in center field. Martin knows the strike zone and has the bat path to hit for average, so he profiles as a top-of-the-order threat capable of providing 20 steals and strong defense. He also has an above-average arm. Despite hitting .324/.390/.502 in the high minors, Martin has struggled during brief stints with the Rangers. His injury and inactivity in the big leagues cut into his development time in 2012, but at worst he figures to be a platoon option for Texas in 2013.
Martin backed up Yoennis Cespedes on Cuba's 2009 World Baseball Classic, then garnered attention by flashing five-tool ability in Cuban pro league games. After defecting at the 2010 FISU World Championships in Taiwan, he signed with the Rangers last May. His $15.6 million major league contract is the second-largest deal ever given to a Cuban defector. He was promoted to Texas when Nelson Cruz went on the disabled list in September and remained with the club for the American League Division Series. Martin profiles as a prototypical leadoff hitter. He's not a burner, but he has above-average speed that plays up because of his instincts. He's a plus hitter with lightning-quick bat speed and a sound approach at the plate. He shows above-average raw power in batting practice but has gap power during games. His swing can get long at times, so the Rangers worked to shorten his path to the ball. Martin is a quality defender in center field, with easy range and a plus-plus arm. He bulked up too much to impress scouts and is better served when his body is loose and athletic. Martin will have a chance to compete for the starting center-field job during spring training. If he wins it, Texas can save some wear and tear on Josh Hamilton by shifting the former MVP to left field.

Minor League Top Prospects

Martin signed for $15.6 million in May 2011, receiving the second-largest bonus ever given to a Cuban defector. He has yet to claim a regular role in Texas, but he would have led the PCL in slugging (.610) and OPS (1.033) if he had enough at-bats to qualify. He missed most of May after tearing a ligament in his left thumb diving into first base on a drag bunt, and spent much of the summer sitting on the Rangers' bench. While he has the bat speed to hit for average, Martin's still learning his swing path. He shows plus raw power during batting practice but more gap power during games. His plus-plus speed currently plays better in center field than it does on the bases, and he can play right field thanks to his above-average arm.
Martin was another enigma at Round Rock. A Cuban defector who signed a $15.6 million big league contract in May, he hit .348/.435/.571 and earned rave reviews in Double-A before a promotion to Round Rock by early July. But after a 17-for-43 (.395) start with the Express, he batted just .220/.268/.273 the rest of the way. Martin's best assets are his speed and defense. He's a plus runner who can steal bases and cover decent ground in center field, though he's still working to improve his reads and jumps in both regards. He also has a plus arm that would play in right field if needed. With his speed to go with his quick bat and balanced approach, Martin has the tools necessary to hit for average. He projects to have average power at best, but that's not his role. He does a good job of putting the ball in play and getting on base.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

Background: A backup to Yoenis Cespedes on Cuba's 2009 World Baseball Classic squad, Martin defected the following year and signed a five-year, $15.6 million major league deal in May 2011. Among Triple-A Pacific Coast League players with at least 250 plate appearances, he ranked second in hitting (.359) and third in on-base percentage (.422) and slugging (.610) in 2012. He missed five weeks after tearing a ligament in his left thumb in May. Scouting Report: The Rangers say Martin has more power than he gets credit for, and he hits home runs with ease during batting practice. They would like him to tone down his swing and focus more on lining balls to the gaps, however, in order to take advantage of his plus speed. That attribute also boosts his average via bunts and infield hits as well as providing him with solid range in center field. Martin knows the strike zone and has the bat path to hit for average, so he profiles as a top-of-the-order threat capable of providing 20 steals and strong defense. He also has an above-average arm. The Future: Despite hitting .324/.390/.502 in the high minors, Martin has struggled during brief stints with the Rangers. His injury and inactivity in the big leagues cut into his development time in 2012, but at worst he figures to be a platoon option for Texas in 2013.
Background: Martin backed up Yoenis Cespedes on Cuba's 2009 World Baseball Classic and defected during the 2010 FISU World Championships in Taiwan. He signed with the Rangers last May, and his $15.6 million major league contract is the second-largest deal ever given to a Cuban defector. He was promoted to Texas in September and remained with the club for the American League Division Series. Scouting Report: Martin profiles as a prototypical leadoff hitter. He has above-average speed that plays up because of his instincts. He's a plus hitter with lightning-quick bat speed and a sound approach at the plate. He shows above-average raw power in batting practice but has gap power during games. His swing can get long at times, so the Rangers worked to shorten his path to the ball. Martin is a quality defender in center field with easy range and a plus-plus arm. He has bulked up too much to impress scouts and is better when his body is loose and athletic.The Future: Martin will have a chance to compete for the starting center-field job during spring training. If he wins it, Texas can shift former MVP Josh Hamilton back to left field.