The Cleveland Guardians have promoted infielder Angel Martinez to the parent club.
The switch-hitting Martinez is taking the role of Gabriel Arias, who was placed on the Major League Baseball family emergency list June 21.
Martinez, 22, has been on fire recently, and graduates to the big leagues after hitting .333 with three home runs so far this season in 74 plate appearances at Triple-A Columbus.
Martinez got a late start to this season following a foot contusion he suffered during spring training. He was placed on the 60-day Injured List after he also fractured his left hamate bone.
Now healthy, Martinez has opened eyes with his very hot bat in the International League.
In a Columbus Clippers game against the Worcester Red Sox June 19, Martinez hit a double, and two home runs, scoring four runs, and driving in four.
About Angel Martinez:
In 2018, Angel Martinez was signed by the (then) Cleveland Indians as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic.
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Martinez received a $500,000 signing bonus.
The son of former major league catcher Sandy Martinez, Angel Martinez made his professional debut at the age of 17, when he played for the Indians Dominican Summer League team.
Martinez hit .306 in 261 plate appearances in that first professional experience .
Martinez has flown through the Cleveland Guardians farm system, having played just parts of five seasons. He did not play in the 2020 season due to the pandemic.
Scouting Angel Martinez:
Martinez is 6-0, 200 pounds.
Martinez was placed on the Guardians 40-man roster in November 2022. He has been on the rise in the organization since.
As well as scouting him in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, this old scout got to evaluate Martinez in all 13 games he played this past spring training.
Martinez impressed this writer with his strong frame, excellent barrel skills, and outstanding overall play in the middle-infield.
Mature beyond his age, it is evident to this observer that Martinez has the athletic ability and overall skills on both sides of the ball to be impactful at the major league level.
Offensively, Martinez hits well from both sides of the plate. He can barrel the ball to all fields.
Martinez has strong hands and wrists, and his excellent bat speed is a highlight of his hitting mechanics.
Martinez has the ability to let the ball travel a bit, and then, using a measured swing, hit line drive ropes to the gaps.
As evidenced by his recent Triple-A results, Martinez is flashing power from his strong frame. There is every reason his power surge can continue as he adapts, adjusts, and learns how major league pitchers try to get him out.
An excellent contact hitter, in his entire minor league career so far, Martinez has struck out only 323 times in 1,793 plate appearances.
Martinez knows the strike zone well, but he goes to the plate to hit. Not to take a walk. He has recorded only 184 minor league walks.
Ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the Guardians organization by MLB.com, Martinez is at his best when he sees lots of pitches per at-bat, which is a hallmark of the Guardians organizational hitting philosophy.
To this scout, if he gets decent playing time, Martinez could hit 20 home runs in a big league season.
Defensively, the Guardians have played him at second base, shortstop, third base, and in the outfield in his development years.
For this scout, Martinez probably fits best at second base. But his arm strength is strong enough to make every play from shortstop, with good carry on his throws.
If there is one flaw to his defense, Martinez may not have the first-step quickness to the ball some scouts may like. However, he gets the job done with good footwork, and that strong arm.
Martinez has enough speed to steal bases, but he isn’t a burner.
After observing Martinez in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, this scout wrote:
“Athletic, switch-hitting middle-infielder with potentially surprising power. Excellent contact hitter, with ability to spread the ball from foul line to foul line from both sides of the plate. Baseball savvy. Makes good game decisions. Can force his way to the big leagues.”
Martinez’ excellent spring reinforced those thoughts.
Martinez will wear No. 1 with the Guardians.
Scouting Grade: 50
Martinez has the ability to be a regular middle-infielder at the big league level. If needed, he can play third base. He has a great eye at the plate, makes contact, and should hit for a good batting average, with potential power. He is good defensively.
It will take some time for Martinez to play his way to the starting lineup.
This scout values Angel Martinez as a Grade 50 player-or one that can be counted upon for an eventual regular place in a major league lineup.
