Austin Martin

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #10 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Martin was a consistent performer in his three years at Vanderbilt, though the coronavirus pandemic meant his draft season was cut short after just 16 games. The Blue Jays selected him fifth overall in 2020, but dealt him just a year later along with Simeon Woods Richardson to acquire righthander Jose Berrios. Martin’s time with the Twins has been marred by injuries. He missed the first three months of the 2023 season with a right elbow sprain. He also missed a month in 2022 because of a sprain of his left, non-throwing elbow.
  
  Scouting Report: Because he was a top five overall pick and a key part of a big trade, Martin has carried lofty expectations that now appear unrealistic. He’s unlikely to develop significant power--he has never hit 20 doubles or 10 home runs in a season--and now projects to have well below-average juice. His throwing issues have made shortstop unrealistic as well. If you focus on what he can do--and if he can stay healthy--he could still be a useful player. Martin has an excellent understanding of the strike zone, which gives him a shot to be an above-average hitter who consistently gets on base. He draws plenty of walks and has some of the best contact skills in the organization, but his approach and swing trade impact for contact. Defensively, Martin is an athletic, rangy second baseman who is also a competent center and left fielder. He’s played more in the dirt than in the outfield, but his range and arm appear more comfortable in the grass.
  
  The Future: The dreams of Martin being an impact shortstop are long gone, but he could be a useful multi-positional player for the Twins in 2024. The hope is that he can be a Willi Castro type who gets on base, steals bases and provides defensive versatility.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 45
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #14 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Martin was considered one of the best hitters in his college class, while he also showcased his versatility by playing six different positions at Vanderbilt. After being a productive singles hitter as a freshman, he slugged over .600 in 2019 and in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in his draft year. The Blue Jays quickly traded him to the Twins in 2021's Jose Berrios deal. His disappointing 2022 season was interrupted by a wrist injury, but he did finish strong by hitting .373 in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Two different teams have now tried to get Martin to drive the ball more, but he almost always reverts to focusing on getting his front foot down early and taking a direct, contact-oriented bat path. That approach should let him hit for average and get on base, but with zero impact at the plate. He is a heady baserunner with plus speed. Martin is a confounding defender in the infield. Give him time, and he will revert to a tendency to get mechanical and double pump before throwing. He's much more fluid and his arm action is better when he is forced to rush himself, or when he's playing in the outfield. Because of that, his average arm plays better in the outfield than in the infield. At this point, it's highly unlikely he can stick at shortstop, but he could be a rangy second baseman and he's shown he can be an above-average defender in center or left.
  
  The Future: Martin's 2022 season was a step back, both as far as his production and his potential. He can still be a useful big leaguer, but one who will likely be limited offensively and defensively as a rangy second baseman or center fielder with limited power.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 30. Field: 55. Run: 60. Arm: 50.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: A standout collegian and All-American at Vanderbilt, Martin was in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, as teams liked his bat even if they debated where he’d end up playing defensively. The Blue Jays were excited to see him fall to No. 5 overall, where they signed him for $7,000,825—the second-biggest bonus of the class. The Blue Jays traded Martin and righthander Simeon Woods Richardson to the Twins in his first pro season to acquire righthander Jose Berrios in July 2021. Martin was assigned to Double-A, where he showed excellent on-base ability, though scouts wondered about his overall impact and future defensive home.
  
  Scouting Report: Martin developed a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in his draft class, and that hitting ability and on-base skills create a strong foundation for his value as a player. Scouts noted that Martin’s bat path got longer and his hand load got more complicated, which created some timing issues this season compared to a simple and quick-firing path in college. He continued to show above-average bat speed, but scouts internally and externally wonder what sort of power Martin will grow into. His exit velocities were below-average and he totaled just 25 extra-base hits in 418 plate appearances. Gaining more strength and hitting the ball with authority more frequently will determine whether Martin becomes an impact regular or more of an average, everyday type player. His best offensive attribute might be his plate discipline and batting eye. Martin’s .414 on-base percentage was the 10th-best mark among upper-level hitters with 300 plate appearances in 2021. Of the top 25 hitters in that category, the 22-year-old Martin was the youngest. He rarely expands the zone and chases bad pitches. Martin is a strong athlete with above-average running ability who can put pressure on opposing teams on the bases, but his future defensive home is still in question. He split time equally between shortstop and center field this season but is a much more instinctive and natural defender in the outfield, where his throwing struggles are less of an issue. His arm strength is fine, and Martin has received solid feedback on his glove work and range at shortstop, but he struggles to set himself up well on throws and his accuracy has been problematic dating back to college. Because of that, many scouts think Martin will wind up in the outfield, where he’ll be more good than great in center and where his power output could make him a tougher offensive profile if he has to move to left field.
  
  The Future: Martin’s bat-to-ball skills and batting eye give him impressive carrying traits that will make a big league role in some capacity extremely likely. The biggest question moving forward is how much impact he can make at the plate. The development of his currently below-average power will be crucial to determining if Martin is just a fine regular or an impact, 60 grade-caliber hitter.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #1 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 70. Power: 55. Run: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  Track Record: Martin was an All-American at Vanderbilt who led the Southeastern Conference in on-base percentage in 2019, putting himself in conversations to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. The Blue Jays were elated to get him with the fifth pick, signing him for $7,000,825. He spent the summer at the alternate training site and consistently put together the most disciplined at-bats of any hitter in Rochester.
  
  Scouting Report: Martin is a well-rounded, intensely competitive player with quick hands and a short, direct swing geared for line drives. He has excellent hand-eye coordination which leads to a high contact rate and good plate coverage, with no problems barreling high-end velocity. Martin’s bat speed and swing efficiency allow him to let the ball travel deep before deciding whether to swing which, along with his keen eye for the strike zone, helps him get on base at a high clip. Martin’s offensive value will come more from his on-base skills than his power, but he has solid-average raw power that was showing up more in games before the season shut down. A tick above-average runner, Martin is athletic and was announced as a shortstop on draft day. He spent a lot of time at shortstop at the alternate site but moved around to third base, second base and center field. He played mostly third base in 2020, with hands that work well in the dirt, but throwing accuracy issues prompted Vanderbilt to move him from third base to center field in 2020.
  
  The Future: Martin’s future position remains unsettled, but he has the hitting ability and versatility to develop into a plus regular at a multitude of positions. He’s advanced enough to start in high Class A in 2021.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #2 prospect in 2020 draft
  A first team All-American and Golden Spikes semifinalist as a sophomore after he hit .392/.486/.604 and finished third in the country in hits, Martin has long been one of the favorites for the first overall pick in the 2020 draft. Martin has some of the best pure hitting ability in the class with eye-popping bat speed, excellent contact ability and impressive plate discipline. Martin is more pure hitter than masher, but he increased his home runs from one as a freshman to 10 as a sophomore. He hit three homers in 16 games before the 2020 season was canceled, with the best isolated slugging percentage of his career (.286). Some have compared Martin to Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson as a fellow Vanderbilt product, but Martin mostly played third base with the Commodores and moved to center field this season after experiencing throwing accuracy problems. He also played center field for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. While Martin doesn’t have elite speed or the best first step, he has the instincts and athleticism to potentially handle center field. Martin is more of a plus runner than a true burner, and while teams would have liked to see him handle shortstop, it is concerning he wasn’t the shortstop on his college team. Even if Martin doesn’t wind up at shortstop, he has the defensive ability to become an asset at a premium position, whether that’s center field, third base or second base. While there are questions about his future defensive home, Martin’s offensive resume is as impressive as any in the country, with the ability to hit for high average, draw plenty of walks and be a disruptive runner on the basepaths.
• Ranked #134 prospect in 2017 draft
  Martin has been scouted quite a bit in his prep career, having played in heavily scouted events as a junior and as a senior. The Vanderbilt recruit does a little bit of everything, but his most exciting attributes are on defense. Martin shows flashes of above-average range and body control. He makes highlight-reel caliber plays out of his area, ranging to the opposite side of the second base bag or down the third base line. The game can sometimes speed up on Martin and he'll have some adjustments to make for his defensive tools to play at the next level. Martin has battled past arm injuries and his throws have been inconsistent throughout the spring. Some scouts see him having a 40-grade arm on the 20-to-80 scale, while others have seen him show a 55. He's an above-average runner and shows some feel for hitting. Martin has near-average bat speed and works the gaps with below-average power. Scouts would like to see him focus on getting stronger and maturing both physically and mentally so that he can get the most out of his tools.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #10 prospect in 2021
  Drafted fifth overall in 2020 out of Vanderbilt and signed for $7 million, Martin received an ambitious assignment to Double-A to start his pro career, which perhaps resulted in what a mixed bag it ended up being. Scouts expressed significant concerns about Martin’s ability to remain at shortstop because of a below-average arm and average footwork. They also weren’t sold on his ability to stick in center field. Martin played both positions equally as often. That trend continued with the Twins after the organization acquired him and Simeon Woods Richardson at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Jose Berrios to the Blue Jays. Left field may ultimately suit Martin’s skill set best, and his .424 on-base percentage could make him a future table-setter. Evaluators would like to see him develop more power to profile on a corner. He hit just two home runs in 196 at-bats for the Fisher Cats and ended up with five on the season after finishing his year in Double-A Wichita.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #47 prospect in 2022
• Ranked Baseball America's #19 prospect in 2021

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Martin was considered one of the best hitters in his college class, while he also showcased his versatility by playing six different positions at Vanderbilt. After being a productive singles hitter as a freshman, he slugged over .600 in 2019 and in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in his draft year. The Blue Jays quickly traded him to the Twins in 2021's Jose Berrios deal. His disappointing 2022 season was interrupted by a wrist injury, but he did finish strong by hitting .373 in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Two different teams have now tried to get Martin to drive the ball more, but he almost always reverts to focusing on getting his front foot down early and taking a direct, contact-oriented bat path. That approach should let him hit for average and get on base, but with zero impact at the plate. He is a heady baserunner with plus speed. Martin is a confounding defender in the infield. Give him time, and he will revert to a tendency to get mechanical and double pump before throwing. He's much more fluid and his arm action is better when he is forced to rush himself, or when he's playing in the outfield. Because of that, his average arm plays better in the outfield than in the infield. At this point, it's highly unlikely he can stick at shortstop, but he could be a rangy second baseman and he's shown he can be an above-average defender in center or left.
  
  The Future: Martin's 2022 season was a step back, both as far as his production and his potential. He can still be a useful big leaguer, but one who will likely be limited offensively and defensively as a rangy second baseman or center fielder with limited power.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 30. Field: 55. Run: 60. Arm: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Martin was considered one of the best hitters in his college class, while he also showcased his versatility by playing six different positions at Vanderbilt. After being a productive singles hitter as a freshman, he slugged over .600 in 2019 and in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in his draft year. The Blue Jays quickly traded him to the Twins in 2021's Jose Berrios deal. His disappointing 2022 season was interrupted by a wrist injury, but he did finish strong by hitting .373 in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Two different teams have now tried to get Martin to drive the ball more, but he almost always reverts to focusing on getting his front foot down early and taking a direct, contact-oriented bat path. That approach should let him hit for average and get on base, but with zero impact at the plate. He is a heady baserunner with plus speed. Martin is a confounding defender in the infield. Give him time, and he will revert to a tendency to get mechanical and double pump before throwing. He's much more fluid and his arm action is better when he is forced to rush himself, or when he's playing in the outfield. Because of that, his average arm plays better in the outfield than in the infield. At this point, it's highly unlikely he can stick at shortstop, but he could be a rangy second baseman and he's shown he can be an above-average defender in center or left.
  
  The Future: Martin's 2022 season was a step back, both as far as his production and his potential. He can still be a useful big leaguer, but one who will likely be limited offensively and defensively as a rangy second baseman or center fielder with limited power.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 30. Field: 55. Run: 60. Arm: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  August Update: An elbow injury has sidelined Martin for more than a month, which is cutting into the time he has to turn around a disappointing season.
  
  Track Record: A standout collegian and All-American at Vanderbilt, Martin was in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, as teams liked his bat even if they debated where he&#39d end up playing defensively. The Blue Jays were excited to see him fall to No. 5 overall, where they signed him for $7,000,825—the second-biggest bonus of the class. The Blue Jays traded Martin and righthander Simeon Woods Richardson to the Twins in his first pro season to acquire righthander Jose Berrios in July 2021. Martin was assigned to Double-A, where he showed excellent on-base ability, though scouts wondered about his overall impact and future defensive home.
  
  Scouting Report: Martin developed a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in his draft class, and that hitting ability and on-base skills create a strong foundation for his value as a player. Scouts noted that Martin&#39s bat path got longer and his hand load got more complicated, which created some timing issues this season compared to a simple and quick-firing path in college. He continued to show above-average bat speed, but scouts internally and externally wonder what sort of power Martin will grow into. His exit velocities were below-average and he totaled just 25 extra-base hits in 418 plate appearances. Gaining more strength and hitting the ball with authority more frequently will determine whether Martin becomes an impact regular or more of an average, everyday type player. His best offensive attribute might be his plate discipline and batting eye. Martin&#39s .414 on-base percentage was the 10th-best mark among upper-level hitters with 300 plate appearances in 2021. Of the top 25 hitters in that category, the 22-year-old Martin was the youngest. He rarely expands the zone and chases bad pitches. Martin is a strong athlete with above-average running ability who can put pressure on opposing teams on the bases, but his future defensive home is still in question. He split time equally between shortstop and center field this season but is a much more instinctive and natural defender in the outfield, where his throwing struggles are less of an issue. His arm strength is fine, and Martin has received solid feedback on his glove work and range at shortstop, but he struggles to set himself up well on throws and his accuracy has been problematic dating back to college. Because of that, many scouts think Martin will wind up in the outfield, where he&#39ll be more good than great in center and where his power output could make him a tougher offensive profile if he has to move to left field.
  
  The Future: Martin&#39s bat-to-ball skills and batting eye give him impressive carrying traits that will make a big league role in some capacity extremely likely. The biggest question moving forward is how much impact he can make at the plate. The development of his currently below-average power will be crucial to determining if Martin is just a fine regular or an impact, 60 grade-caliber hitter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 65. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: A standout collegian and All-American at Vanderbilt, Martin was in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, as teams liked his bat even if they debated where he’d end up playing defensively. The Blue Jays were excited to see him fall to No. 5 overall, where they signed him for $7,000,825—the second-biggest bonus of the class. The Blue Jays traded Martin and righthander Simeon Woods Richardson to the Twins in his first pro season to acquire righthander Jose Berrios in July 2021. Martin was assigned to Double-A, where he showed excellent on-base ability, though scouts wondered about his overall impact and future defensive home.
  
  Scouting Report: Martin developed a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in his draft class, and that hitting ability and on-base skills create a strong foundation for his value as a player. Scouts noted that Martin’s bat path got longer and his hand load got more complicated, which created some timing issues this season compared to a simple and quick-firing path in college. He continued to show above-average bat speed, but scouts internally and externally wonder what sort of power Martin will grow into. His exit velocities were below-average and he totaled just 25 extra-base hits in 418 plate appearances. Gaining more strength and hitting the ball with authority more frequently will determine whether Martin becomes an impact regular or more of an average, everyday type player. His best offensive attribute might be his plate discipline and batting eye. Martin’s .414 on-base percentage was the 10th-best mark among upper-level hitters with 300 plate appearances in 2021. Of the top 25 hitters in that category, the 22-year-old Martin was the youngest. He rarely expands the zone and chases bad pitches. Martin is a strong athlete with above-average running ability who can put pressure on opposing teams on the bases, but his future defensive home is still in question. He split time equally between shortstop and center field this season but is a much more instinctive and natural defender in the outfield, where his throwing struggles are less of an issue. His arm strength is fine, and Martin has received solid feedback on his glove work and range at shortstop, but he struggles to set himself up well on throws and his accuracy has been problematic dating back to college. Because of that, many scouts think Martin will wind up in the outfield, where he’ll be more good than great in center and where his power output could make him a tougher offensive profile if he has to move to left field.
  
  The Future: Martin’s bat-to-ball skills and batting eye give him impressive carrying traits that will make a big league role in some capacity extremely likely. The biggest question moving forward is how much impact he can make at the plate. The development of his currently below-average power will be crucial to determining if Martin is just a fine regular or an impact, 60 grade-caliber hitter.
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  Drafted fifth overall in 2020 out of Vanderbilt and signed for $7 million, Martin received an ambitious assignment to Double-A to start his pro career, which perhaps resulted in what a mixed bag it ended up being. Scouts expressed significant concerns about Martin’s ability to remain at shortstop because of a below-average arm and average footwork. They also weren’t sold on his ability to stick in center field. Martin played both positions equally as often. That trend continued with the Twins after the organization acquired him and Simeon Woods Richardson at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Jose Berrios to the Blue Jays. Left field may ultimately suit Martin’s skill set best, and his .424 on-base percentage could make him a future table-setter. Evaluators would like to see him develop more power to profile on a corner. He hit just two home runs in 196 at-bats for the Fisher Cats and ended up with five on the season after finishing his year in Double-A Wichita.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Martin was considered a possibility for the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft but instead fell to No. 5. He jumped immediately to Double-A New Hampshire to start his pro career this season and hit .281/.424/.383 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 55 games while splitting his time almost evenly between shortstop (27 games and center field (26 games). Martin has a very good approach at the plate. He works counts, doesn't expand the strike zone and has solid bat speed through the zone. More pure hitter than masher, Martin doesn't make much impact when he connects and projects for average power at best. He is a divisive player among scouts: some see a good athlete who controls the strike zone and has handled an aggressive jump fairly well, while others see a light hitter who will have to add significant defensive value to be an above-average everyday player. Martin was drafted as a shortstop, but his actions and below-average, erratic arm don't fit at the position. He has a good first step and instincts in center field and has shown the ability to pick up the position quickly. His arm strength and lack of accuracy precludes him from playing the left side of the diamond or right field, so he'll have to find a way to stick in center field or bounce around between center, left and second base.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 70. Power: 55. Run: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  Track Record: Martin was an All-American at Vanderbilt who led the Southeastern Conference in on-base percentage in 2019, putting himself in conversations to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. The Blue Jays were elated to get him with the fifth pick, signing him for $7,000,825. He spent the summer at the alternate training site and consistently put together the most disciplined at-bats of any hitter in Rochester.
  
  Scouting Report: Martin is a well-rounded, intensely competitive player with quick hands and a short, direct swing geared for line drives. He has excellent hand-eye coordination which leads to a high contact rate and good plate coverage, with no problems barreling high-end velocity. Martin’s bat speed and swing efficiency allow him to let the ball travel deep before deciding whether to swing which, along with his keen eye for the strike zone, helps him get on base at a high clip. Martin’s offensive value will come more from his on-base skills than his power, but he has solid-average raw power that was showing up more in games before the season shut down. A tick above-average runner, Martin is athletic and was announced as a shortstop on draft day. He spent a lot of time at shortstop at the alternate site but moved around to third base, second base and center field. He played mostly third base in 2020, with hands that work well in the dirt, but throwing accuracy issues prompted Vanderbilt to move him from third base to center field in 2020.
  
  The Future: Martin’s future position remains unsettled, but he has the hitting ability and versatility to develop into a plus regular at a multitude of positions. He’s advanced enough to start in high Class A in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 70. Power: 55. Run: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  Track Record: Martin was an All-American at Vanderbilt who led the Southeastern Conference in on-base percentage in 2019, putting himself in conversations to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. The Blue Jays were elated to get him with the fifth pick, signing him for $7,000,825. He spent the summer at the alternate training site and consistently put together the most disciplined at-bats of any hitter in Rochester.
  
  Scouting Report: Martin is a well-rounded, intensely competitive player with quick hands and a short, direct swing geared for line drives. He has excellent hand-eye coordination which leads to a high contact rate and good plate coverage, with no problems barreling high-end velocity. Martin’s bat speed and swing efficiency allow him to let the ball travel deep before deciding whether to swing which, along with his keen eye for the strike zone, helps him get on base at a high clip. Martin’s offensive value will come more from his on-base skills than his power, but he has solid-average raw power that was showing up more in games before the season shut down. A tick above-average runner, Martin is athletic and was announced as a shortstop on draft day. He spent a lot of time at shortstop at the alternate site but moved around to third base, second base and center field. He played mostly third base in 2020, with hands that work well in the dirt, but throwing accuracy issues prompted Vanderbilt to move him from third base to center field in 2020.
  
  The Future: Martin’s future position remains unsettled, but he has the hitting ability and versatility to develop into a plus regular at a multitude of positions. He’s advanced enough to start in high Class A in 2021.
• December, 2019 Scouting Report
  A first team All-American and Golden Spikes semifinalist as a sophomore after he hit .392/.486/.604 and finished third in the country in hits, Martin has long been one of the favorites for the first overall pick in the 2020 draft. Martin has some of the best pure hitting ability in the class with eye-popping bat speed, excellent contact ability and impressive plate discipline. Martin is more pure hitter than masher, but he increased his home runs from one as a freshman to 10 as a sophomore. He hit three homers in 16 games before the 2020 season was canceled, with the best isolated slugging percentage of his career (.286). Some have compared Martin to Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson as a fellow Vanderbilt product, but Martin mostly played third base with the Commodores and moved to center field this season after experiencing throwing accuracy problems. He also played center field for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. While Martin doesn’t have elite speed or the best first step, he has the instincts and athleticism to potentially handle center field. Martin is more of a plus runner than a true burner, and while teams would have liked to see him handle shortstop, it is concerning he wasn’t the shortstop on his college team. Even if Martin doesn’t wind up at shortstop, he has the defensive ability to become an asset at a premium position, whether that’s center field, third base or second base. While there are questions about his future defensive home, Martin’s offensive resume is as impressive as any in the country, with the ability to hit for high average, draw plenty of walks and be a disruptive runner on the basepaths.