Sean Gilmartin

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #17 prospect in 2015
  The Mets don't typically look to the Rule 5 draft as a source of talent, but with the club casting a wide net for lefthanded relief options, they selected Gilmartin in the 2014 edition. The 28th overall pick out of Florida State in 2011, he advanced quickly to Triple-A in the Braves system, but after logging a 5.74 ERA over 17 starts in 2013, Atlanta shipped him to the Twins for Ryan Doumit. While he relies on finesse and doesn't have any one outstanding pitch, Gilmartin has three reliable offerings with which to attack batters, plus he throws an early-count, low-70s curveball to same-side batters. He pitches at 88-90 mph with his fastball and locates the ball down from a three-quarters arm slot. His low-80s slider features consistently good depth, while his high-70s, fading changeup is his best pitch for most scouts. Despite not having a wipeout breaking ball, Gilmartin dominated lefthanders as a starter at Double-A and Triple-A in 2014, holding them to a .201 average and posting a 49-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. If Gilmartin makes the Opening Day roster, the Mets intend to use him in middle relief and not necessarily in a matchup role.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #10 prospect in 2014
  Gilmartin reached Triple-A in his first full season, 2012, but struggled in his follow-up while battling a shoulder injury that cost him two months at midseason. Florida State's Friday night starter throughout his three years in Tallahassee, he went 28th overall in the 2011 draft. Gilmartin is a finesse pitcher who knows how to set up hitters and pitch to his strengths. His fastball has good movement while sitting in the 89-91 mph range, and he mixes it well with a plus changeup and a low-80s slider with a sharp, late break. He uses the same arm slot with all of his offerings, creating deception. Gilmartin does a good job of pounding the lower half of the strike zone, and his excellent command allows him to paint the black. He doesn't have the velocity to get away with mistakes, though. A former two-way player, Gilmartin repeats his delivery well and is a good fielder who controls the running game. The Braves are confident Gilmartin will bounce back from his injury-plagued 2013 season, projecting him as a No. 4 starter. The lefthander should to return to Triple-A Gwinnett but could be among the first promoted should Atlanta need assistance.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #4 prospect in 2013
  The No. 1 starter for three years at Florida State, Gilmartin went 28th overall in the 2011 draft and signed for $1,134,000. He lived up to his billing as an advanced college pitcher in his first full pro season, leading the Double-A Southern League in WHIP (1.15) and earning all-star honors there before a July promotion to Triple-A. Considered by some scouts to be a poor man's Mike Minor, Gilmartin is a finesse lefthander who knows how to set up hitters and pitch to his strengths. His best pitch is a plus changeup with depth and fade. His 89-91 mph fastball has good movement, and he creates deception with a low-80s slider that has late break. He throws all three pitches for strikes and with the same arm speed. Gilmartin will need to get stronger after his fastball dipped to 86-88 mph late in the season. He remained effective even with diminished velocity because he continued to work the corners and pitch down in the strike zone. He's a good athlete who repeats his smooth delivery and fields his position well. Gilmartin is moving just as fast as the Braves expected, and he could see his first big league action in 2013. He'll open the season back in Gwinnett, however. His ultimate ceiling is as a No. 3 or 4 starter.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #5 prospect in 2012
  The Braves took Gilmartin with the 28th overall pick in the 2011 draft, marking the second time in three years they went with an advanced college lefthander in the first round. He has drawn comparisons to Mike Minor, taken seventh overall by Atlanta in 2009. Signed for $1,134,000, Gilmartin had no problem handling low Class A hitters in his brief pro debut. Gilmartin has a clean arm action and above-average athleticism. A two-way player at Florida State, he throws an 88-91 mph fastball with good life and a solid slider. His best pitch is a plus changeup, and he knows how to set up hitters while mixing all of his offerings. While he won't get many swings and misses against advanced hitters, Gilmartin is an efficient hurler who records lots of groundouts. He fields his position well and can swing the bat. An eventual No. 3 starter, Gilmartin has the polish to move as quickly as the Braves need. They sent him to the Arizona Fall League and will ship him to Double-A Mississippi to begin his first full pro season. He may not need much more than a year in the minors.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #20 prospect in 2012
  Showing the polish that made him a first-round pick in 2011, Gilmartin finished his first full pro season in Triple-A. The SL leader in WHIP (1.15), he's an athletic, command-and-control lefthander with a good changeup, good frame and classic, smooth lefthanded delivery. The total package evokes some comparisons to Tom Glavine, though Gilmartin profiles more as a back-of-the-rotation starter than a future Hall of Famer. At his best, Gilmartin fills the strike zone with 88-91 mph fastballs and plus changeups. In the second half, his velocity dipped to 86-88 mph but he still worked both sides of the plate and maintained late life on his fastball. His slider is below average but has some late bite, and he has the savvy to use it well.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The No. 1 starter for three years at Florida State, Gilmartin went 28th overall in the 2011 draft and signed for $1,134,000. He lived up to his billing as an advanced college pitcher in his first full pro season, leading the Double-A Southern League in WHIP (1.15) and earning all-star honors there before a July promotion to Triple-A. Scouting Report: Considered by some scouts to be a poor man's Mike Minor, Gilmartin is a finesse lefthander who knows how to set up hitters and pitch to his strengths. His best pitch is a plus changeup with depth and fade. His 89-91 mph fastball has good movement, and he creates deception with a low-80s slider that has late break. He throws all three pitches for strikes and with the same arm speed. Gilmartin will need to get stronger after his fastball dipped to 86-88 mph late in the season. He remained effective even with diminished velocity because he continued to work the corners and pitch down in the strike zone. He's a good athlete who repeats his smooth delivery and fields his position well. The Future: Gilmartin is moving just as fast as the Braves expected, and he could see his first big league action in 2013. He'll open the season back in Gwinnett, however. His ultimate ceiling is as a No. 3 or 4 starter.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background:: The Braves took Gilmartin out of Florida State with the 28th overall pick in the 2011 draft, marking the second time in three years that they had taken an advanced college lefthander in the first round. He has drawn comparisons to Mike Minor, who was taken seventh overall by Atlanta in 2009. Signed for $1.134 million, Gilmartin had no problem handling low Class A hitters in his brief pro debut. Scouting Report: Gilmartin has a clean arm action and above-average athleticism. A two-way player at Florida State, he throws an 88-91 mph fastball with good life and a solid slider. His best pitch is a plus changeup, and he knows how to set up hitters while mixing all of his offerings. While he won't get many swings and misses against advanced hitters, Gilmartin is an efficient hurler who records lots of groundouts. He fields his position well and can swing the bat. The Future: An eventual No. 3 starter, Gilmartin has the polish to move as quickly as the Braves need. They sent him to the Arizona Fall League and will ship him to Double-A Mississippi to begin his first full pro season. He may not need much more than a year in the minors.