Jason Martin Stats & Scouting Report

AB	269
AVG	.286
OBP	.364
SLG	.517
HR	13

Full name Jason Martin
Born 09/05/1995 in Corona, CA
Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Orange Lutheran
Debut 04/06/2019
Drafted in the 8th round (227th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2013 (signed for $159,700).

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A Long Beach State recruit, the undersized Martin embodies the Dirtbag spirit. Scouts have a tendency to use the phrase "good little player" when talking about the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder, a high-energy player with decent tools across the board. He's a solid-average runner who projects as an average defensive center fielder with an average arm. He has a compact swing and a knack for putting the barrel on the ball from the left side, giving him a chance to be an average hitter. He has a gap-to-gap approach but could grow into more power down the road. Martin lacks a carrying tool, but scouts love his makeup and aptitude, and giving him a chance to grind his way to the big leagues. He could be drafted between the fifth and eighth round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Track Record: Martin had a track record of hitting in five seasons in the Astros' system, but he was both unprotected and undrafted in the Rule 5 draft after the 2017 season. The Pirates acquired him as part of the trade that sent Gerrit Cole to Houston. Martin had one of the most impressive first halves of any position player in the system, hitting .325/.392/.522 with nine home runs at Double-A Altoona. He struggled after a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis, however, finishing with more strikeouts (52) than hits (45).

Scouting Report: Martin has whip in his swing and average power he generates from his lower half, but he also has a significant leg kick, which can leave him vulnerable against breaking balls. His hands work well at the plate, which gives him a chance to be a .270-.280 hitter. He's an above-average runner who has posted double-digit stolen bases in every season of his career. He has enough to have the range to play center field on occasion and be an above-average left fielder. His arm is his one below-average tool.

The Future: Martin was added to the 40-man roster in November. He should be battling Reynolds for a backup outfield role in Pittsburgh before long.
Martin hit 23 home runs in Lancaster in 2016, but his 18 home runs in 2017 were more significant, as he showed that he could hit for power outside of the launching pad of Lancaster (18 of those 23 home runs in 2016 came at Lancaster or High Desert). A 20-20 man in 2016, Martin has surprising pop for his size. He gets excellent weight transfer and uses his lower half well, starting off his swing with a significant leg kick. It does leave him vulnerable to getting caught out front on offspeed pitches, but his hands work well enough to flick some of them to the opposite field. Ideally he'd be an everyday center fielder, but scouts don't see him as more than fringe-average there at best thanks to poor routes that negate his above-average speed. He primarily played left field at Double-A Corpus Christi. Martin runs a risk of ending up as a tweener without enough power or on-base ability to play in left field or enough defense to play in center. The Astros left Martin unprotected in the Rule 5 draft and he went unpicked, so it's a fear other teams have as well. He is in position to move to Triple-A Fresno in 2018.

Draft Prospects

A Long Beach State recruit, the undersized Martin embodies the Dirtbag spirit. Scouts have a tendency to use the phrase "good little player" when talking about the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder, a high-energy player with decent tools across the board. He's a solid-average runner who projects as an average defensive center fielder with an average arm. He has a compact swing and a knack for putting the barrel on the ball from the left side, giving him a chance to be an average hitter. He has a gap-to-gap approach but could grow into more power down the road. Martin lacks a carrying tool, but scouts love his makeup and aptitude, and giving him a chance to grind his way to the big leagues. He could be drafted between the fifth and eighth round.