Mason Martin - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT 1B 19 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 40 60 40 50 40

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 1
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Two-sport high school athlete who also played football. Weight room junkie. On the shorter side for a first baseman. Bulked up in a big way during quarantine. Muscular upper body and defined through his core. Powerful lower half that helps him generate big-time power to his pull side. Picked up yoga in the offseason to help him with flexibility. Not a lot of room for physical projection but has a great makeup and work ethic of a professional. Father played semi pro ball.

Hit: Slightly open stance. Hands start high - above his ear. Has a little pre-pitch wiggle in his hands. Front leg kick is used a timing mechanism. Has done a better job of staying on his back leg. Gets his hands through the zone well and shortened up in 2019. Can dive at pitches outside. Will offer at offspeed pitches leading me to believe he struggles picking up spin. Big time pull-side hitter. Can try to yank pitches even on the outer third. Grade: 40

Power: Plus power that has already played up during games. Typical left-handed masher who should enjoy taking aim at PNC Park's short right field porch. Will hammer pitches on the inner half of the plate. Could flirt with 30-35 home runs if given regular playing time. Grade: 60

Field: Lacks prototypical height for a 1st Baseman. Average defender who will be adequate with his glove. Has been working with former Pirate Kevin Young to improve his footwork at first base. Doesn't necessarily stand out but has good enough instincts around the bag to be adequate. Grade: 40

Arm: Above average arm. Doesn't have to make many throws but is accurate when asked to do so. Combined with his glove he should be league average at first base defensively. Grade: 50

Run: Above average runner, especially given his power profile. Not a threat to steal but is a good enough athlete to score from 2nd on a hit. Despite the increased muscle mass, new commitment to yoga should help him maintain speed on the base paths. Grade: 40

Overall: Martin was the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year in 2019 after hitting 35 home runs across two levels. His plus raw power makes him a rarity in the organization which, depending on what Pittsburgh decides to do with Josh Bell, could land him on the North Side by 2022. His pull-side power profile matches up well with PNC Park (and most of the parks in the NL Central) so in a system that isn't rich in those types he could find himself with an everyday role at some point. He needs to continue to work on hitting to all parts of the field and improve on his pitch recognition but as he hasn't played above High-A ball, there will be growing pains. Still, the raw power and overall makeup should make him an everyday player in Pittsburgh.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Platoon
Risk: Moderate