D3 Second baseman turned 102 MPH Flamethrower gets promoted to High-A Vancouver.
Photo credit: https://www.milb.com/
The Toronto Blue Jays have a pitcher in their farm system who throws 102 MPH. That's not the crazy part. Until last year, Colby Martin was a Division III second baseman. Dunedin announced on their social media early yesterday that Martin was getting the call to the High-A Vancouver Canadians.
Martin, a 16th-round draft pick of the Blue Jays last summer, appeared in nine games for Dunedin to round out his draft year and returned to Florida to improve upon his 7.27 ERA during that limited run out of the gate.
Since the start of the season, fans have seen a complete 180 from the right-hander, as Martin has been one of the best Blue Jays' relievers and has been a go-to arm for the club late in games.
With the ability to hit triple-digits on the radar gun, Martin uses a three-pitch mix to induce weak contact and a high number of strikeouts.
Mixing in a cutter and a slider to complement his four-seamer, Martin has been a strikeout machine for Dunedin, racking up 29 punchouts through 22 1/3 innings and 20 appearances.
«I feel amazing. Locked in and confident. I'm in a really good spot,» Martin said. «The more I'm on the mound, the more comfortable I am.»
Martin credits much of his newfound comfort to his throwing partner Javen Coleman, an outgoing lefty from Texas. «He's gotten me out of my shell,» Martin said.
During Spring Training, Dunedin Manager Gil Kim would call Martin «Two-Way» after watching him dart around the field during batting practice, fielding grounders and shagging fly balls like his old days as an infielder.
«He hasn't been handed anything,» Kim said. «He's had to work for everything and that shows in how tough and convicted he is He put himself on the map.»
"Colby is a diamond in the rough, with a golden arm," said Matt Sanders, who trained Martin this past offseason at Champs Training Facility in PA. "This kid is a once-in-a-generation talent. He's different."
Martin doesn't go around telling people he throws 102, but he doesn't have to. «If someone else on this team did it, the whole world would know,» he joked. «But I'm not a big self-promoter. I just let it happen.»
Martin's progression to professional baseball is an interesting note, converting from an infielder/two-way player to a full-time reliever late in his collegiate career.
Nevertheless, he is now off to a bigger challenge up in the Northwest League to help the Canadians try and capture the second-half standings for a shot at the NWL championship.
How far do you think Colby Martin will go in the Blue Jays farm system this year?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 22 | 190 ANSWERS D3 Second baseman turned 102 MPH Flamethrower gets promoted to High-A Vancouver. How far do you think Colby Martin will go in the Blue Jays farm system this year? | ||
| AA New Hampshire Fishercats | 51 | 26.8 % |
| AAA Buffalo Bisons | 77 | 40.5 % |
| Too early to tell | 62 | 32.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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