Carlos Martinez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #2 prospect in 2014
  A delay in securing a work visa cost Martinez all of 2013 spring training but didn't slow his accelerated arrival to the majors. He leapfrogged from Double-A Springfield to his big league debut, rode the St. Louis-to-Triple-A Memphis shuttle, and by the World Series was the club's eighth-inning flamethrower. Known as Carlos Matias when he originally signed with the Red Sox in 2009, Martinez was suspended a year when his paperwork couldn't be verified. The Cardinals spent a year gathering a 40-page binder, shepherding him through an investigation and to a $1.5 million bonus. The lithe righty draws comparisons with Pedro Martinez for his build. From the small frame, Martinez unleashes an action fastball at 97-101 mph. Of his first 117 pitches in the postseason, 10 were 100 mph or faster and 21 were sinkers at about 96. He abandoned his curveball in 2013 for a hard slider, one that he could throw with the same delivery as his fastball and gave him something in the 80s to offset the power. A former shortstop, Martinez is flamboyant--bordering on frenetic--on the field, eager to field any grounder he can reach, but also has learned to control and repeat his delivery for greater consistency. He won't need a changeup if he remains in the bullpen. Martinez drew a lot of interest from other teams at the trade deadline and will continue to do so. He'll come to big league spring training as a starter, ready to compete for the rotation, but his high-voltage stuff will assure him a late-inning role in the bullpen for 2014.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #3 prospect in 2013
  Then known as Carlos Matias, Martinez was suspended for a year by MLB when he couldn't present the paperwork needed to finalize a $160,000 deal with the Red Sox in 2009. The Cardinals spent weeks piecing together the proof needed to sign him for $1.5 million in 2010, with most of the legwork done by scout Aaron Rodriguez. Martinez has blistered opponents ever since, shaking off shoulder tendinitis early last year to reach Double-A at age 20 and throw seven shutout innings in the Texas League championship series. He is an aggressive pitcher with a fastball that regularly hums at 94-98 mph and hit 100 in his first Springfield appearance. He has a biting curveball and a changeup that's more effective when he doesn't throw it too hard. Both could develop into plus pitches. Martinez has a natural delivery but sometimes strays from it and his command wobbles. Some scouts see him as too small to handle starting, but he has wiry strength and his efficient mechanics will help. Martinez is set to return to Double-A in 2013 with a chance to advance to Triple-A.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #2 prospect in 2012
  The Red Sox originally signed the righthander then known as Carlos Matias for $160,000 in 2009, but he failed to pass an MLB investigation because his name didn't match his paperwork. The Cardinals helped him piece together the required proof, then signed him for $1.5 million in June 2010. In his first season in the United States, he pitched in the 2011 Futures Game and reached high Class A Palm Beach at age 19. Martinez has an easy delivery, an overpowering fastball and plenty of bravado. His four-seam fastball routinely sits in the upper 90s and reaches 100 mph, even late in games. He also can fire a sinker at 92-93 mph. After he was pushed to high Class A, his mechanics faltered and his command followed. Martinez has a devastating curveball at times, but it was more loopy after he got to Palm Beach. He also has a changeup that features some fade but loses effectiveness when he throws it too hard. Some scouts wonder if his size lends itself to the durability needed in a starter, though he does have wiry strength. Martinez will return to high Class A to get his delivery and command back on track. Once he does, St. Louis may have a hard time holding him back. He has the ingredients to become a frontline starter or a closer.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #3 prospect in 2011
  Then known as Carlos Matias, Martinez agreed to a $160,000 bonus with the Red Sox in 2009 but failed to pass a MLB investigation and was suspended for a year. His velocity soared while he was off limits, and the Cardinals offered him $1.5 million last June. While he went through another investigation, he was able to pitch for St. Louis' Rookie-level Dominican Summer League affiliate. After confirming his true identity, MLB signed off on the deal in October. With an athletic frame and a whippy arm, Martinez consistently unleashes 96-99 mph fastballs in short stints. His fastball has a hard, natural cutting action that has some calling it an 80 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale. He complements the pitch with a sinking 86-87 mph changeup and a sharp curveball. He has a sinker that sits at 92-93, but his command of the pitch is spotty. Martinez will come to the Cardinals' campus in Jupiter, Fla., early this spring so some coaches and officials can see him first hand for the first time. He'll be assigned to a U.S. affiliate, possibly a full-season club if his performance merits it. His rise could mirror Shelby Miller's, and St. Louis is eager to see if he can surpass Miller's debut.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #7 prospect in 2013
  Despite a smallish frame, Martinez boasts a big fastball that at times tops 100 mph. He has a lightning-quick arm and throws cheese with ease. He throws a hard, two-seamer with sinking action that sits in the low- to mid-90s. Though used solely as a starter at Memphis, his time in St. Louis was spent primarily in the bullpen, where many scouts see his future. He possesses back-of-the-bullpen stuff and could be a future shutdown closer. ?He?s another great arm,? Bundy said. ?It seems like you?re seeing more guys that can throw it 100 miles per hour.? Whether Martinez remains a starter or makes the full-time conversion to the bullpen will depend on the development of his offspeed pitches, which still need polish. His changeup and slurvy breaking ball both have their moments, particularly when he stays on top of his breaking ball.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #6 prospect in 2012
  After finishing 2011 in high Class A, Martinez opened 2012 back there and came down with shoulder tendinitis that sidelined him for a month. Once he recovered, he joined Springfield and excelled. His 2.90 ERA would have ranked second in the TL if he had enough innings to qualify and he turned in two strong playoff starts, including seven scoreless innings to win Game One of the TL finals. Martinez attacks hitters with an overpowering fastball that touched triple digits in his first Double-A appearance and usually sits at 94-98 mph. His curveball and changeup both have the potential to be plus pitches. The Cardinals are trying to get him smoother and more consistent with his mechanics, which would improve his command.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #6 prospect in 2011
  Signed for $1.5 million in June 2010, Martinez made his U.S. debut this year. He breezed through low Class A and punctuated his first half with an electrifying appearance at the Futures Game. He found the FSL more of a struggle, battling command and ranking third in the league in walks during his two months with Palm Beach. Despite his lack of physicality, Martinez still generates easy mid-90s heat and touches 100 mph, even when he has trouble locating the strike zone. He gets some sink on his fastball as well, making it that much more of a weapon. Martinez had the most problems trying to command his curveball, tending to slow his arm and have the pitch get loopy when he tried to guide it into the strike zone. It's a tight downer at its best. His changeup shows promising fade and has the potential to become a third quality offering, but he presently throws it too hard at 87-88 mph.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #31 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #38 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #27 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Then known as Carlos Matias, Martinez was suspended for a year by MLB when he couldn't present the paperwork needed to finalize a $160,000 deal with the Red Sox in 2009. The Cardinals spent weeks piecing together the proof needed sign him for $1.5 million in 2010. He has blistered opponents ever since, shaking off shoulder tendinitis early last year to reach Double-A at age 20 and throw seven shutout innings in Game One of the Texas League championship series. Scouting Report: Martinez is an aggressive pitcher with a fastball that regularly hums at 94-98 mph and hit 100 in his first Springfield appearance. He has a biting curveball and a changeup that's more effective when he doesn't throw it too hard. Both could develop into plus pitches. He has a natural delivery but sometimes strays from it and his command wobbles. Some scouts see him as too small to handle starting, but his frame belies a wiry strength and his efficient mechanics will help. The Future: Martinez is set to return to Double-A in 2013, though he'll have the chance to pitch in the Triple-A rotation at some point during the year. He's another Cardinals fireballer poised to make a big league impact, though the organization's pitching depth may mean he'll have to break in as a reliever.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  The Red Sox originally signed the righthander then known as Carlos Matias for $160,000 in 2009, but he failed to pass an MLB investigation because his name didn't match his paperwork. The Cardinals helped him piece together the required proof, then signed him for $1.5 million in June 2010. In his first season in the United States, he pitched in the 2011 Futures Game and reached high Class A Palm Beach at age 19. Martinez has an easy delivery, an overpowering fastball and plenty of bravado. His four-seam fastball routinely sits in the upper 90s and reaches 100 mph, even late in games. He also can fire a sinker at 92-93 mph. After he was pushed to high Class A, his mechanics faltered and his command followed. Martinez has a devastating curveball at times, but it was more loopy after he got to Palm Beach. He also has a changeup that features some fade but loses effectiveness when he throws it too hard. Some scouts wonder if his size lends itself to the durability needed in a starter, though he does have wiry strength. Martinez will return to high Class A to get his delivery and command back on track. Once he does, St. Louis may have a hard time holding him back. He has the ingredients to become a frontline starter or a closer.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Red Sox originally signed the righthander then known as Carlos Matias for $160,000 in 2009, but he failed to pass an MLB investigation because his name didn't match his paperwork. The Cardinals helped him piece together the required proof, then signed him for $1.5 million in April 2010. In his first season in the United States, he pitched in the 2011 Futures Game and reached high Class A Palm Beach at age 19. Scouting Report: Martinez has an easy delivery, an overpowering fastball and plenty of bravado. His four-seam fastball routinely sits in the upper 90s and reaches 100 mph, even late in games. He also can fire a sinker at 92-93 mph. After he was pushed to high Class A, his mechanics faltered and his command followed. Martinez has a devastating curveball at times, but it was more loopy after he got to Palm Beach. He also has a changeup that features some fade but loses effectiveness when he throws it too hard. Some scouts wonder if his size lends itself to the durability needed in a starter, though he does have wiry strength. The Future: Martinez will return to high Class A to get his delivery and command back on track. Once he does, St. Louis may have a hard time holding him back. He has the ingredients to become a frontline starter or a closer.