2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #18 SS/2B Casey Martin

A third round draft pick in 2020, Arkansas junior Casey Martin was quickly signed by the Phillies and consideration as one of the organization's top infield prospects quickly began. The organization's belief in his ceiling is likely evident in the signing bonus he got, which was reportedly $1.3 million, considerably more than slot money dictated by his 87th overall draft position ($685K).

The righty hitting Martin tallied a .311/.393/.545 slash line with 30 homers, 24 steals and 112 RBI in 143 games through his college career as a Razorback. Reports had him falling in the draft as a result of an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand prior to his 2020 season. Prior to a procedure to repair the ailment, Baseball America projected Martin as a top ten draft pick.

In 15 games in 2020 primarily as the Arkansas clean up hitter, before the season was halted due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Martin notched a .271 batting average with a pair of home runs, 10 RBI along with six stolen bases.

A super talent, Martin was a collegiate freshman All-American in 2018 and was a unanimous pre-season All-American prior to his junior season.

In 2021, Martin opened the regular season with Class A Clearwater. In 69 games there, he posted a .223 average with 17 doubles, six homers, 35 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Following a promotion to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, Martin struggled offensively, sporting a .136/.232/.200 slash line in 29 games.

It was reported that Martin was battling an ankle ailment last year, which hindered his production.

Martin, listed at five-feet-11, 175-pounds in an Arkansas native.

He's projected as a guy that could change positions and land as a second baseman or a center fielder as he moves through the professional ranks. Martin previously played third base as a freshman in college. In the minors last year, he played 62 games as a shortstop and 35 games at second base.

Described as a player that's "full of tools", it's possible that the 22-year-old should likely return to Jersey Shore to open the 2022 campaign, as he still has something to prove at that level.

Please visit Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work and get access to exclusive content as well as material like this before anyone else.

Also, you can keep tabs on this year's countdown by clicking this link.

Comments

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign. En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more. Read ahead for that interview. -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good. You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day. I would say that's the biggest difference. But I...

Ring-a-ling

This week I heard old news about how when the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl, they gave former Colt Edgerrin James a championship ring. "Edge" had been a Colt for seven years, and even though he was gone when they won the big one, the team and the coaching staff felt as though James had contributed in building the team that won it all, so they awarded him a ring. This got me wondering which people, in an extended Phillies phamily , would be deserving of a 2008 World Series Champions ring. I heard an interview with Mike Schmidt, in the days that followed the Series, and when asked if he thought he'd get a ring, he said, "They have my (ring) size." Schmidt, the Hall of Fame thirdbaseman , was a long time Phillie, a one time coach of the single-A Clearwater Threshers (where he managed World Series MVP Cole Hamels ) and appears as a guest hitting instructor in Phillies spring training every year. With all those things in mind, of course Mike Schmidt shou...

Q&A with Justin De Fratus

Justin De Fratus is a 21 year old right handed relief pitcher with the Lakewood BlueClaws. An 11th round draft choice in 2007, Justin had been a starter in his first two seasons in the Phillies organization. Informed this spring that he'd be switched from the rotation to the bullpen, Justin has excelled and become one of the most reliable pitchers on the Lakewood staff. In 19 games this season, Justin is 2-0, with a 1.83 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over 39 1/3 innings pitched. PhoulBallz.com spoke with Justin De Fratus just last night. Here's how that went down... Justin, South Atlantic League all star selections were announced this week, and you were named to the team. Can I get your reaction to that? How excited were you? Very excited about it. Well, especially this year because I just got moved to the bullpen, so this is a new role for me. So, if anything, it's reassuring that I'm doing my job. It's the first time in my pro career that I've been selected as an all star...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog