Hubbry Logo
Austin MartinAustin MartinMain
Open search
Austin Martin
Community hub
Austin Martin
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Austin Martin
Austin Martin
from Wikipedia

Christopher Austin Martin (born March 23, 1999) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Key Information

Amateur career

[edit]

Martin attended Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2014, he was selected 15U United States national baseball team.[1] Martin was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 37th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead attended Vanderbilt University where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores.[2]

As a freshman in 2018, Martin started 58 games at six different positions.[3] He hit .338/.452/.414 with one home run, 19 runs batted in and 22 stolen bases.[4] He played mostly third base his sophomore year in 2019. In 65 games, he hit .410/.503/.619 with eight home runs and 42 runs batted in, and helped lead Vanderbilt to victory in the 2019 College World Series against the Michigan Wolverines.[5] His .410 average led the Southeastern Conference.[6] After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team.[1] Before the suspension of his junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin had appeared in 16 games and hit .377 with three home runs and 11 runs batted in.[7]

Professional career

[edit]

Toronto Blue Jays

[edit]

Martin was considered by MLB.com to be the "best pure hitter" and a top prospect in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, projecting as a top three with potential to be drafted first overall.[8] He was selected fifth overall by the Toronto Blue Jays and was announced as a shortstop.[9][10] He received a $7 million signing bonus.[11]

Martin made his professional debut in 2021 with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Double-A Northeast.[12] In June, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[13] Over 56 games with New Hampshire, Martin slashed .281/.424/.383 with two home runs, 16 runs batted in, and nine stolen bases.[14]

Minnesota Twins

[edit]

On July 30, 2021, Martin was traded to the Minnesota Twins along with Simeon Woods Richardson for José Berríos.[15] Martin was assigned to the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-A Central with whom he finished the season.[16] Over 37 games, he batted .254 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in.[17] Martin spent the 2022 season with Double-A Wichita, playing in 90 games and hitting .241/.367/.316 with 2 home runs, 32 runs batted in, and 34 stolen bases.

On March 5, 2023, Martin was shut down with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.[18] He still managed to play in 59 games for the Triple–A St. Paul Saints, batting .263/.387/.405 with 6 home runs, 28 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.

On November 14, 2023, the Twins added Martin to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He was optioned to Triple–A St. Paul to begin the 2024 season.[19] On March 30, 2024, Martin was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Royce Lewis.[20] He made his major league debut the next day on March 31. In 93 appearances for Minnesota during his rookie campaign, Martin slashed .253/.318/.352 with one home run, 16 RBI, and seven stolen bases.

Martin was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the 2025 season.[21]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Austin Martin (born Christopher Austin Martin; March 23, 1999) is an American professional baseball and for the of (MLB). Standing at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and weighing 185 pounds (84 kg), he bats and throws right-handed, and has versatility across positions including center field, second base, , and left field. Martin attended , where he played for the and earned recognition as a standout prospect. He was selected by the Blue Jays with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Shortly after signing, Martin was traded to the in July 2021 as part of a deal involving reliever . In the minors, he progressed through the Twins' system, posting a .270 with 14 stolen bases in Double-A in 2021, a .263 average with 16 stolen bases in Triple-A in 2023, and a .305 average in Triple-A in 2024. Martin made his MLB debut with the Twins on March 30, 2024, appearing in 93 games that season with a .253 , seven stolen bases, and one . In the 2025 season, he appeared in 50 games, batting .282 with one , seven RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. Over his brief MLB career spanning 2024 and 2025, Martin has maintained a .265 , two , 23 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 389 at-bats, showcasing his speed and contact skills as a .

Early life and amateur career

Early life and high school

Austin Martin was born on March 23, 1999, in , and grew up in Jacksonville. His parents, Christopher and Daisy Martin, married young at ages 19 and 20, respectively, while Christopher pursued studies in respiratory therapy and worked night shifts, and Daisy attended nursing school full-time. The couple later divorced, and Martin's family expanded to include seven siblings, including stepsiblings. Martin is the second-oldest. Martin has credited his parents' and sacrifices for instilling in him a strong sense of responsibility and competitiveness from an early age. Martin's early exposure to baseball began at age four, when he was removed from a T-ball team for being too advanced, prompting him to join older travel squads. By age seven, on a 9-and-under travel team, he demonstrated leadership by encouraging a struggling teammate rather than seeking personal glory, a trait that foreshadowed his team-oriented approach. In 2014, as a , he earned a spot on the 15U National Team, competing internationally and gaining early national recognition. Martin transferred to Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville as a in 2014 and played varsity for the Conquerors for three seasons. During his sophomore year (2014–15), he batted .341 with 7 RBIs in 30 games, contributing significantly to the team's 2015 Class 4A state championship win, including a 6-4 victory over Fort Myers Bishop Verot in the final. As a junior in 2016, he hit .368 with three home runs and 21 RBIs. His senior season in 2017 was standout, posting a .424 , .624 , .763 , five home runs, and 23 RBIs in 25 games, which drew scouts' attention and led to his selection by the Indians in the 37th round of the MLB Draft—though he opted for college instead.

College career

Austin Martin enrolled at Vanderbilt University in 2017 and played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores from 2018 to 2020, primarily as an infielder and outfielder under head coach Tim Corbin. As a freshman in 2018, he appeared in 59 games, batting .338 with a .452 on-base percentage, one home run, 19 RBIs, and a team-leading 22 stolen bases, earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors on April 16 and selection to the NCAA Clemson Regional All-Tournament Team. That season, Martin was named a Freshman All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and Perfect Game, highlighting his immediate impact as a versatile defender who started at second base and shortstop. In his sophomore year of 2019, Martin transitioned to third base and leadoff hitter, posting a .392 batting average, .486 on-base percentage, 10 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a program-record 87 runs scored while tying for second in Vanderbilt history with 105 hits. He led the (SEC) in batting average, on-base percentage, and runs, securing All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive Team honors, along with Baseball America and D1Baseball First-Team All-American selections. Martin was also named SEC Player of the Week on February 18 and NCBWA National Hitter of the Week, and he advanced to semifinalist status for the and ; his contributions helped Vanderbilt win the 2019 Men's national championship. Martin's junior season in 2020 was abbreviated to 16 games due to the , during which he hit .377 with a .507 , three home runs, and 11 RBIs while starting in center field. Entering the year, he was tabbed as SEC Preseason Player of the Year by D1Baseball and earned preseason First-Team All-American honors from Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball, and Perfect Game, ranking as the No. 2 overall prospect for the 2020 MLB Draft by Baseball America. Over his three seasons, Martin's positional flexibility—spanning second base, third base, , center field, and left field—underscored his value, with career totals including a .362 , 14 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 43 stolen bases across 140 games.

Professional career

Draft and minor league beginnings

Martin was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the out of . He signed with the Blue Jays for a $7,000,825 bonus, above the slot value of $6,180,700. Due to the cancellation of the minor league season amid the , Martin did not play professionally in 2020, instead participating in instructional league games and fall ball to begin his development. Martin's professional debut came in 2021 at the Double-A level with the , Toronto's Eastern League affiliate, where he posted a .281 with two home runs and nine stolen bases over 56 games before the trade deadline. On July 30, 2021, the Blue Jays traded Martin, along with pitcher , to the in exchange for starting pitcher . Following the trade, he continued at Double-A with the , Minnesota's team, batting .254 with three home runs and five stolen bases in 37 games to close out the season. In 2022, Martin returned to Wichita for a full season at Double-A, where he hit .241 with two home runs and a league-leading 35 stolen bases in 92 games (90 at Double-A), showcasing his speed while adjusting to a more consistent role in the Twins' system. He also appeared in two games with the rookie-level FCL Twins and played in the for the , refining his versatile skill set across infield and outfield positions. Martin's progression accelerated in 2023 when he earned a promotion to Triple-A with the , Minnesota's affiliate, batting .245 with four home runs in 39 games. He also had an 18-game stint at High-A Cedar Rapids (.333 average, two home runs) and brief appearances at Low-A and rookie ball for at-bats maintenance, but his Triple-A performance highlighted his readiness for higher competition, blending contact hitting with emerging power. By early 2024, Martin remained with , hitting .305 in 28 games before his major league call-up in late March.

Toronto Blue Jays organization

Martin was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the out of , where he was regarded as one of the top hitters in his draft class. The Blue Jays signed him to a $7,000,825 bonus, above the slot value, and initially listed him as a , though his versatility across the infield and outfield was noted early. Due to the , the 2020 minor league season was canceled, limiting Martin to instructional league play with the Blue Jays organization, where he focused on adapting to professional routines without official games. Entering 2021 as a top prospect—ranked as high as No. 19 overall by Baseball America and No. 22 by Baseball Prospectus—Martin began the season at Double-A with the , the Blue Jays' Eastern League affiliate. In 56 games before the July 30 trade deadline, he batted .281 with a .424 , two home runs, and 16 RBI, showcasing his plate discipline with 37 walks against 53 strikeouts while stealing nine bases. His performance earned him a selection to the 2021 MLB , highlighting his potential as a high-contact, switch-hitting . On July 30, 2021, the Blue Jays traded Martin, along with pitcher , to the in exchange for starting pitcher , ending his brief tenure in the organization after just one partial season. During his time with , Martin was viewed as a cornerstone of their farm system, praised for his advanced approach at the plate and defensive flexibility, though his power development remained a focus area in scouting reports.

Minnesota Twins organization

On July 30, 2021, Austin Martin was acquired by the from the Toronto Blue Jays, along with pitcher , in exchange for starting pitcher . Following the trade, Martin was assigned to the Double-A of the , where he appeared in 37 games, batting .254 with a .779 , three home runs, and 19 RBIs, demonstrating solid contact skills early in his Twins tenure. In 2022, Martin returned to Wichita for an extended stint, playing 90 games and posting a .241 with a .682 , two home runs, and 32 RBIs, while showing improved plate discipline with a 12.2% walk rate. He also made brief appearances in two games for the Rookie-level FCL Twins, hitting .250. His performance highlighted his versatility across and center field, though power remained limited. Throughout the season, Martin ranked as the Twins' No. 6 prospect by Baseball America, praised for his elite contact ability and low strikeout rate of 16.9%. Martin's 2023 campaign involved shuttling between levels to refine his skills, beginning with 39 games at Triple-A (.245 , .767 , four home runs, 17 RBIs) before demotions to (18 games, .333 , 1.048 , two home runs) and the FCL Twins (three games). Overall, he played 67 minor-league games with a .260 and .779 , seven home runs, and 30 RBIs, emphasizing his adaptability at second base, , and positions. MLB Pipeline noted his impressive plate discipline, with a 14.5% walk rate, positioning him as a potential utility contributor. He ended the year as the Twins' No. 10 prospect. By 2024, Martin opened the season at St. Paul, excelling in 28 games with a .305 , .848 , and 10 RBIs, which underscored his readiness for the majors through consistent hitting and a .385 . His minor-league progression with the Twins reflected a focus on defensive versatility and on-base skills, transitioning from a top-100 prospect upon arrival to a polished organizational depth piece by the time of his promotion. In 2025, following an early-season option to Triple-A, he played 32 games at St. Paul (.310 , .810 ) and three in the FCL Twins, maintaining his contact-oriented approach with minimal strikeouts.
YearLevel(s)Team(s)GAVGOPSHRRBI
2021AAWichita37.254.779319
2022AA/RkWichita/FCL Twins92.241.680235
2023AAA/A+/RkSt. Paul/Cedar Rapids/FCL Twins67.260.779730
2024AAASt. Paul28.305.848110
2025AAA/RkSt. Paul/FCL Twins35.306.799116

Major League Baseball career

2024 debut season

Austin Martin made his Major League Baseball debut with the on March 30, 2024, entering the game against the as a in the during a 5-1 victory. The promotion came shortly after , when Martin was recalled to replace injured Royce Lewis, filling a utility role amid early-season roster needs. In his debut, Martin recorded no at-bats but contributed defensively in the outfield after the substitution. Over the course of the 2024 season, Martin appeared in 93 games for the Twins, demonstrating versatility across multiple positions including center field (45 games), left field (28 games), second base (10 games), and (6 games). He batted .253 (59-for-233) with an percentage of .670, collecting 18 doubles, one triple, one , 16 RBIs, 41 runs scored, and seven stolen bases while striking out 47 times in 257 plate appearances. His season was interrupted by a right oblique strain, placing him on the 10-day on July 7 (retroactive to July 6), from which he was activated on July 19 after missing about two weeks. Martin showed improvement in plate discipline and contact late in the season, particularly after his return from injury. In his final 69 at-bats spanning and , he hit .333 with a .434 and .478 , drawing 11 walks against eight strikeouts. This stretch included a .308 in over 26 at-bats with four doubles, highlighting his ability to provide speed and gap power as a super-utility player.

2025 season

In 2025, Austin Martin suffered a right strain on April 10 while playing for the Triple-A , placing him on the seven-day and causing him to miss nearly a month. He returned briefly but reinjured the hamstring in May, requiring further recovery time. After rehabilitation, he posted a .275 in 25 games with the Saints before being recalled by the on June 26 following activation from the seven-day . Martin's role with the Twins solidified in the second half of the season, where he emerged as a versatile , primarily patrolling left field (37 games) and center field (11 games) while also seeing time at second base (4 games). Over 50 major league games, he batted .282 with a .374 and .365 , yielding a .739 and 106 OPS+—a marked improvement from his 89 OPS+ in 2024. He recorded 44 , 22 runs scored, 1 , 7 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 156 at-bats, with his speed on the bases proving particularly effective in the final 30 games, where he hit .304 and swiped 8 bags. Defensively, Martin showcased his athleticism with several highlight-reel plays in September, including a tumbling catch into the stands against the New York Yankees on September 15 that preserved a Twins victory, a leaping grab into the outfield wall versus the Philadelphia Phillies on September 27, and a sliding catch in foul territory to rob on September 17. These efforts contributed to his 0.7 bWAR, making him the only Twins backup outfielder with a positive value that season. Martin's late-season surge, particularly after the trade deadline, positioned him as a reliable option and super-utility contributor, helping to stabilize the Twins' depth amid injuries to key players like . His improved plate discipline and baserunning efficiency highlighted his growth into a more complete player by season's end.

Awards and honors

Amateur achievements

Martin attended Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lettered in and . As a , he helped lead the team to the Florida Class 4A state championship. He earned all-region first-team honors as a senior and was named a 2018 Rawlings-Perfect Game second-team All-American. Additionally, he received Rawlings-Perfect Game high honorable mention accolades as an underclassman in and 2016. Martin was selected in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Indians but chose to attend instead. At Vanderbilt, Martin quickly established himself as a standout in 2018, batting .308 with a .388 in games and leading the league with 22 stolen bases. He was recognized as a All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), and Perfect Game. Martin earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors on April 16 and was named to the NCAA Clemson Regional All-Tournament Team after hitting .385 in the tournament. As a in 2019, Martin led the SEC with a .392 , .486 , and a program-record 87 runs scored, while tying for second in Vanderbilt history with 105 hits. He was selected to the All-SEC First Team, SEC All-Defensive Team, and first-team squads by D1Baseball.com and Baseball America. Martin also earned NCBWA National Hitter of the Week (February 18) and SEC Player of the Week (February 18) honors, and was a semifinalist for both the and . He contributed to Vanderbilt's championship, hitting .424 in SEC play and recording 34 multi-hit games; he was named to the All-Tournament Team and SEC All-Tournament Team. Martin's junior season in 2020 was abbreviated due to the , but he started strongly with a .377 average, .507 , and .660 in 16 games. Entering the year, he was tabbed as a first-team Preseason All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball, and Perfect Game, as well as D1Baseball's Preseason SEC Player of the Year and a coaches' preseason first-team All-SEC selection. He ranked as the No. 2 prospect on Baseball America's Top 150 Players list and the top 2020 MLB Draft prospect per Perfect Game.

Professional recognition

In 2021, while playing for the Double-A , Martin was selected to represent the in the , highlighting his status as a top prospect early in his professional career. Later that year, Martin participated in the with the , where he posted a strong .374 , .454 , and .482 over 21 games, ranking third in average among qualified players and demonstrating his offensive potential against advanced competition. In 2025, Martin received the Charles O. Johnson Award for Most Improved Twin as part of the ' Diamond Awards, recognizing his development into a versatile who hit .282 with one and seven RBIs in 50 games despite early-season injuries.

Playing style and

Offensive profile

Austin Martin is recognized as a right-handed hitter with an advanced approach at the plate, emphasizing contact and on-base skills over . His swing features quiet hands and a leg kick for timing, allowing him to generate above-average bat speed while maintaining a high zone contact rate of 87.5% in his career. Martin excels at spraying line drives to all fields, with a 20.5% line-drive rate in 2023, and demonstrates strong plate discipline, evidenced by walk rates consistently above 10% in professional play. Scouts grade Martin's hit tool at 55 on the 20-80 scale, highlighting his exceptional bat-to-ball skills and ability to avoid strikeouts, with a career rate of 16.5% prior to 2024. His power is rated lower at 30, reflecting modest output—such as 8 homers in 104 games across Double-A and Triple-A in 2023—and an exit velocity of 85.1 mph in the 2023 season. His MLB exit velocity is 86.2 mph as of 2025, ranking near the bottom among qualified hitters. Despite efforts to elevate his launch angle and drive the ball more consistently, Martin has struggled to add impact, often resulting in a ground-ball heavy profile at 40.1% in recent seasons. In , Martin's offensive profile has translated to solid on-base contributions but limited extra-base production. During his 2024 debut season with the , he posted a .253/.318/.352 line over 257 plate appearances, with a 7.8% walk rate and 18.3% rate, yielding an rOBA of .299. In 2025, his performance improved to .282/.374/.365 in 181 plate appearances, boosting his walk rate to 12.2% and maintaining a 17.1% rate for an rOBA of .333, though he managed just 1 each year. A key weakness persists against inside velocity, where he has shown vulnerability, but his ability to draw walks and make consistent contact positions him as a high-OBP utility contributor.

Defensive versatility

Austin Martin's defensive versatility emerged early in his career at Vanderbilt University, where as a freshman in 2018, he started 58 games across six positions, including shortstop, second base, third base, and outfield spots. This multi-positional exposure highlighted his athleticism and quick adaptability, earning him a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2019. Scouts noted his soft hands and quick feet, which allowed him to handle infield duties effectively while transitioning to the outfield during his junior year, primarily at third base before shifting to center field for Team USA's Collegiate National Team. Upon being selected fifth overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2020 MLB Draft, Martin's positional flexibility became a key asset in his . In the minors, he primarily played (43 games) and center field (46 games) during the 2022 season with Double-A Wichita, though evaluators observed he lacked a singular defensive home due to arm strength concerns at premium infield spots. The , who acquired him in 2021, emphasized his arm through specialized throwing programs and expanded his roles to include second base and left field, grading his overall fielding at 50 (average) on the 20-80 scouting scale. His plus running speed (55 grade) aided range in the outfield, making him a viable option for covering ground in center, though his instincts were seen as solid rather than elite. In , Martin's versatility proved valuable for the Twins. During his 2024 debut season, he logged 518 in the (primarily center field with 277.2 and left field with 240.1 ) at a .992 , alongside 94 at second base with perfect fielding (1.000). In 2025, he appeared in 45 games (338 , including 262 in left field, 76 in center field, and 1.000 overall) and four games at second base (28 , .900 with 1 error). This ability to seamlessly shift between the infield and outfield—spanning second base, center field, and left field—positions him as a akin to those who fill super-sub roles, though his arm limits viability at higher levels. Overall, his defensive profile emphasizes reliability over flash, with scouts projecting him as an average defender capable of contributing across four positions without major weaknesses in any.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.