Anthony Martinez is a first baseman at UC Irvine who burst onto the collegiate scene as a freshman in 2023 when he slashed .394/.471/.619 with 25 walks and 27 strikeouts.
- Height/Weight: 6’3″, 230 lbs
- DOB: April 12, 2004
- Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Offensive Performance
Martinez followed up his stellar freshman campaign with a .316/.422/.492 slash line in 2024, showcasing an advanced approach at the plate. Notably, his Cape Cod League performance (.833 OPS, 15/9 BB/K ratio) confirmed his ability to succeed with a wood bat, a promising sign for his professional prospects.
One interesting trend in 2024 was his reverse-platoon splits:
| Split | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | K% | BB% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs RHP | .284 | .367 | .447 | .814 | 10.7% | 8.8% |
| vs LHP | .358 | .463 | .552 | 1.016 | 7.4% | 9.9% |
Despite the limited at-bats against lefties, Martinez’s performance against them is worth noting as a strength rather than a concern.
Hitting Mechanics
Let’s take a look at Martinez in the box:
- Frame: Well-built with minimal room for additional weight.
- Stance: Open setup with a semi-crouch, hands positioned shoulder-high, and rhythmic pre-pitch movements.
- Swing Path: Features a slight hitch during the load phase, good bat speed, and a repeatable operation with some natural loft.
- Lower Half: Efficient use of a leg lift and smooth linear-to-rotational transition. Short stride with front foot landing at a 45-degree angle.
- Approach: Demonstrates advanced bat-to-ball skills and an all-fields approach, favoring the center of the diamond.
The calling card is the plate discipline. Thus far in his collegiate career, Martinez has more extra-base hits (57) than strikeouts (56).
Martinez’s bread and butter is sending the ball back where it came from: Over 37% of his batted balls found the middle third of the field in 2024, including nearly 20% of his flyballs.
Here he is doing just that:
This approach helps explain his tendency to keep the ball in the yard. To his pull side, he boasts a 0.530 batting average on balls in play, with good present in-game power.
Defensive and Positional Outlook:
Originally a catcher, Martinez transitioned to first base at UC Irvine, where he has remained. While his below-average speed limits his versatility, his above-average arm strength might allow for experimentation in a corner outfield spot. However, his defensive ceiling is likely capped at average for first base or outfield.
Projection and Summary:
One of the better contact hitters in the 2025 MLB Draft class, Martinez has good baseball skills that should translate well to the pro game. His offensive profile is presently more geared toward contact than power, but I see improved power production as a real possibility for him.
Martinez projects to have plus plate discipline and on-base ability. His ability to add loft and perhaps some positional flexibility will ultimately determine his ability to be in a lineup every day, but there is certainly very solid potential here for a player who has already managed to defy all expectations over the last two season.
| Hit | Discipline | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Ovr | |
| Future | 60 | 55 | 45 | 45 | 55 | 40 | 50 |
Big West Dugout 