Twins Prospect Retrospective: Austin Martin

The Toronto Blue Jays drafted Austin Martin with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. That specific draft class will be uniquely viewed because the players drafted had little or no spring seasons due to the pandemic. Martin was arguably the top hitter in his draft class after he hit .368/.474/.532 (1.007) in 140 collegiate games. Toronto sent him to their alternate training site after he signed, which put him on the path to making his professional debut at Double-A in 2021. All three national prospect rankings placed him in their top 25 prospects leading into the 2021 season, even though he had yet to play a pro game. 

Martin would only play 56 games in the Blue Jays organization. At Double-A, he hit .281/.424/.383 (.807) with 14 extra-base hits and a 14.8 BB%. Minnesota acquired Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson at the 2021 trade deadline in a blockbuster deal that sent José Berríos to Toronto. The Twins had him finish that season at Double-A, where he was over two years younger than the average age of the competition. He posted a .779 OPS in 37 games, but the club had plans to make some adjustments to Martin and unlock his full potential. 

The Twins were already attempting to revamp Martin’s swing and approach within months of trading for him. Minnesota approached him with the idea of making a slight mechanical adjustment that would result in him pulling the ball more regularly. He’s known for his strong eye at the plate, so the team hoped he could focus on certain pitches in the zone and use his athletic ability to catch the ball out front and power it down the line. That approach didn’t work in 2022, as his OPS dropped by over 110 points compared to his professional debut. He was also limited to 92 games during the 2022 season due to multiple injuries, so the Twins sent him to the Arizona Fall League for more plate appearances. 

Martin was one of the top performers in the AFL that season. In 21 games, he hit .374/.454/.482 (.936) with six doubles and a home run. He drew more walks (8) than strikeouts (7) and went 10-for-11 in stolen base attempts. Defensively, he was starting to get more opportunities at other defensive positions besides shortstop, including second base and all three outfield positions. Martin has previously discussed that his most straightforward path to the big leagues might be in a multi-positional utility role. He also realized that some swing adjustments the Twins had suggested might not be the best for his overall performance. Martin might never be a home run hitter, but he can combine his on-base and elite contact skills to provide offensive value. 

Hopes were high for Martin entering the 2023 season based on his AFL performance. However, he dealt with an elbow injury during spring training, and there was some discussion about whether or not he’d need Tommy John surgery. Luckily, he was able to rehab the injury and return to the field for the season’s second half. In St. Paul, Martin hit .263/.387/.405, with 11 doubles and six home runs across 59 games. It was also the first season in which he didn’t log an inning at shortstop. Instead, the Twins rotated him through multiple positions, including second base, center field, and left field. He was one step away from the big leagues, making the 2024 season even more important. 

There was renewed optimism surrounding Martin this spring, and now he is getting his first chance to prove his value with the Twins. Although he lost some prospect shine when the Twins acquired him, his skill set can make him a valuable big leaguer for multiple seasons. 

What stands out the most about Martin’s prospect journey? What value can he provide to the Twins in 2024? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.