Jason Martin Back in the Big Leagues After Dyson Trade

Last night, Jason Martin played in his first Major League game since September 3rd of last season. Here is what the future looks like for the 24-year old outfielder as the 2020 season gets set to head into its final month.

When you think of the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield of the future, there are many different names that end up coming to mind. You usually think of guys like Jared Oliva and Travis Swaggerty as the future in the outfield, but many forget about 24-year-old outfielder Jason Martin. Martin came over as part of the Gerrit Cole trade in 2018, and the Pirates got a glimpse of what the young outfielder could do last season. He was the first prospect called up when Lonnie Chisenhall disappeared off the face of the Earth, and he got a chance to start in left field right from the get-go. He initially took that opportunity and ran with it getting a hit in each of his first four games, sitting with a batting average of .416.

However, he would end up going on a long cold streak that would ultimately get him sent down to the Minor Leagues. He would be recalled two more times from the Pirates but had his season cut short when he suffered a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery on September 3rd. At the end of the day, his numbers were pretty run of the mill on paper. He played in 20 games for the Bucs, hitting .250 with two RBI, nothing really special at first glance. Martin brings with him speed and defensive range while being mostly a contact hitter. Throughout his Minor League career, he consistently hit over the .270 mark and stole double-digit bases every season. Does Martin have a future in the Pirates outfield? That is what we look at today as the Pirates prepare for the 2020 MLB Trade Deadline.

Pirates Outfield Situation

The question if Jason Martin has a future in Pittsburgh or not really depends on which way the Pirates are planning to go with Cole Tucker. If the Pirates move Tucker back to shortstop eventually, that opens up a spot in center field for Martin to slide in. However, if the plan is to keep Tucker in the outfield, things get a little hazy. Martin has the speed and defensive ability to be a strong everyday outfielder for the Pirates, but his bat is what comes into question. He has shown an ability to hit the ball consistently in the Minor Leagues, but it just hasn't translated into Major League success. In order for him to succeed at the Major League level, he is going to have to channel that success he has had throughout the Minor Leagues that has kept his batting average north of .270.

The Pirates realistically have one of two ways they could go with Martin. The first option is that if they move a guy like Adam Frazier at the trade deadline, Cole Tucker comes into play shortstop and Martin can serve as a placeholder in centerfield. However, if the Pirates like Tucker in the outfield, Martin will probably serve more as the team's fourth outfielder/defensive specialist. If Martin is given a chance to play every day, he will be looking to make the most of his opportunities with Jared Oliva waiting in the wings. His defense is good, but the part of his game he would really have to work on is on the offensive side of the ball.

After bursting onto the scene last year in his first four games, Martin sort of faded out through the rest of April, leading to a demotion. After starting with that .416 batting average and one RBI in his first four games, Martin went into a tough cold streak for the rest of April that saw him go 3-23 (.130) with only one RBI over his next 13 games with the Bucs. He didn't strike out a whole lot, with only 10 strikeouts in 35 at-bats during the month, but he also wasn't showing much plate discipline with only three walks in that same period of time. Because he wasn't reaching base much, he really didn't get the opportunity to show the speed he has on the basepaths.

The good thing for Marting offensively is that he makes a lot of contact, and that could help him in the future. In 2019, Martin had a zone contact percentage of 88.9%, which is almost six percentage points higher than Major League average. What this means is, when Martin swings at a pitch in the strike zone, he is making contact more often than not. As they say in baseball, the key is putting the ball in play and seeing what happens and Martin is doing just that. The unfortunate part for Martin is that when he makes contact it usually isn't very hard contact. He only had a hard contact percentage of 50% last season meaning only half the time he challenged the defense. If he can focus on making more hard contact and getting more opportunities, the Pirates could have something good in Martin.

Defense Earning Him Playing Time

Where Jason Martin really makes his impact on the diamond is on the defensive side of the ball. He has always been a good fielding outfielder with a career fielding percentage of .988 in the Minor Leagues. His best performances have come in centerfield, where he has spent most of his time, as he committed just 10 errors in just over 3,300 career innings played. Martin is going to wow you with arm strength, but he uses his speed to cover a lot of ground in the outfield. He can get to a lot of the balls hit in the gaps and that could benefit the Pirates in the vast outfield they have at PNC Park. 

His best defensive season in terms of numbers came the year before the Gerrit Cole Trade when he was in the Houston Astros organization. In 2017, he picked up three outfield assists and committed just three errors all season long. That was also his best offensive season when he had a career-high .278 batting average while hitting 18 home runs and driving in 66 RBI in 99 games played. This power has not translated in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues, proving that this might have been a fluke. Martin's goal at the plate in the Major Leagues is to get on base as consistently as he can whether that be at the top or bottom of the Pirates lineup.

As far as Martin's future goes, I think he is going to serve as a place holder for some of Pittsburgh's other outfield prospects. If he can perform, the Pirates might be able to get something for him making the move worth it. He probably won't be in the Pirates long term plans, but for now, he could provide solid defense in centerfield and prove to be a valuable fourth outfielder option for the Pirates.

Martin and the Pittsburgh Pirates (9-19) are back in action for game two of their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers (14-17) tonight at 7:10 pm. JT Brubaker (0-0, 4.80) gets the start for Pittsburgh opposed by Brett Anderson (2-2, 3.52) for the Brewers. You can watch the action live on AT&T Sportsnet or listen on 93.7 The Fan as the Pirates look to even the three-game series in Milwaukee.