With the 87th overall selection in the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft the Phillies selected 21 year old SS Casey Martin from the University of Arkansas ... he’s a right handed hitter who’s 5’11” 175 and is noted as a very versatile defender that is capable of playing second, shortstop or the outfield.
Here’s Baseball America’s scouting report :
“Martin is perhaps the most toolsy college infielder in the 2020 class, with plus speed, arm strength, raw power and a chance for plus defense at shortstop as well. Typically, a college shortstop with that tool set goes among the top 10 picks. What holds Martin back is his ability to make the most of those tools, with an overly aggressive approach at the plate and less consistency than teams would like in the field. There are significant questions about the quality of Martin’s hit tool and his approach. After a loud freshman campaign in which he hit .345/.418/.556 with 13 home runs, Martin regressed a bit in his sophomore season, thanks mostly to less BABIP luck (.418 in 2018 compared to .344 in 2019). He still managed to hit 15 home runs, but scouts worry about how often he’ll get to that power at the next level with a career strikeout rate over 22 percent. He has always had a tendency to swing and miss frequently, both in the zone and outside of the zone, and those issues continued in his brief play in the shortened 2020 season. Scouts have also wondered why a runner with his speed and quick-twitch actions hasn’t had more success stealing bases (just 18 over his first two seasons), though he was off to a 6-for-6 start in 13 games as a junior. Defensively, Martin has a penchant for making highlight-reel plays, but he lacks the polish needed for an everyday player at the position. Some scouts believe he would be a better fit for center field or second base because of that, while others think he simply needs more reps. Martin could have significantly changed his draft stock—in either direction, depending on how he hit in SEC play—with a full season. Now teams will have to decide if they want to buy into his high-upside tools or avoid the risk he presents.”
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