Martinez is only the first outfielder to get at least 100 plate appearances by his age 20 season and not be qualifying for a batting title by his age 22 season. No hitter regardless of position with at least 100 plate appearances by age 20 has failed to become a big league regular. Most became all-stars.
Fernando Martinez is getting about a plate appearance a day, which doesn’t seem like the pace you want for a 22-year-old prospect.
I suspect he’s the guy to go when Angel Pagan returns. I know a lot of fans are eager to run Willie Harris out of town, but with Chin-Lung Hu gone, David Wright out and the infield stretched thin, Harris’ defensive versatility becomes more valuable to the club. Plus obviously Martinez should be seeing regular playing time somewhere.
We get to see two games’ worth of Martinez’s bat in the lineup this weekend, as he’ll be DHing in the Bronx. Pagan played the last two nights in St. Lucie and the Mets want him to play four nights in a row there, so if all goes according to plan he should rejoin the club Tuesday in Chicago.
Tedquarters 