Toronto infielder named top international prospect for Blue Jays
Photo credit: Toronto Blue Jays
With the international signing period opening up on today, MiLB.com is looking at the best international talents in each system.
Today is a big day on the baseball calendar, as it officially kicks off the 2025 International Signing Period.
Teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, will be jostling for the best talent all around the world, including Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki.
The Jays are reportedly in the mix for Sasaki, as they have joined the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in the final three.
However, for now, that honor goes to Orelvis Martinez, at least to MiLB.com.
MILB.com named the best international talent in each system early this week:
It's been an up-and-down life as a prospect for Martinez since he signed for $3.5 million in 2018, and last year's 80-game suspension for the banned substance Clomiphene was a relative low. But at his best, the right-handed slugger shows at least plus power potential with the elite exit velocities to match. His 103 homers since 2021 rank third in the Minors over that span, and it's that pop that will keep him in Toronto's infield conversation in his age-23 season in 2025. - MILB.com
Coming into the 2024 season, Martinez led the Blue Jays' minor league system in home runs in each of the three seasons, amassing a total of 86 home runs.
Not only did those 86 home runs lead the Blue Jays minor league system, but they led all of minor league baseball from 2021 until 2023.
After a rough 2022 season in terms of anything except for home runs, Martinez had a terrific 2023 between Double-A and Triple-A.
The 2024 season started great for the 22-year-old infielder, as he slashed .260/.343/.523 with 16 home runs in 269 plate appearances for a 121 wRC+.
This led to a call-up to the big leagues, with the Jays doing so last June.
Martinez played in his first big league game on June 21, getting his first big league hit in the process.
However, it was reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN that Martinez received an 80-game suspension for PED usage.
"Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez has been suspended 80 games for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy. Martinez, 22, is Toronto's top hitting prospect and made his big league debut Friday." - Jeff Passan
Due to the suspension, Martinez will likely start the 2025 season with the Bisons once again.
The Blue Jays are coming off a last-place finish in the American League East in 2024.
They do not have a well-regarded farm system, so Martinez breaking out would be a very welcome thing for the organization.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 15 | 133 ANSWERS Toronto infielder named top international prospect for Blue Jays Will Orelvis Martinez make the Blue Jays roster in 2025? | ||
| Yes | 66 | 49.6 % |
| No | 25 | 18.8 % |
| Part time player | 28 | 21.1 % |
| Buffalo Bisons regular | 14 | 10.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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