Walker Martin Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Full name Walker Jace Martin
Born 02/20/2004 in Greeley, CO
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 188 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Eaton
Drafted in the 2nd round (52nd overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2023 (signed for $2,997,500).

View Draft Report

School: Eaton (Colo.) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 19.4
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

Martin is one of the top prospects in the Four Corners region of the country, and in the 2022 summer showcase circuit he wowed scouts with a sweet, lefthanded swing. Martin has a lean and projectable, 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and impressive feel for the barrel with line drive power in batting practice and some pull-side game power as well. He has sound hitting mechanics with quick bat speed through the zone and does an excellent job staying balanced in his lower half, with a steady, quiet head throughout his swing. Scouts raved about his hitting potential, and while he’s mostly a line drive, gap-to-gap hitter now it would be unsurprising to see him get to average power in the future. Martin’s 20 home runs this spring with Eaton High were tops in the country and he also hit .636. Martin has turned in above-average and plus run times in workout settings, and he’s also a terrific athlete with one of the best Loden scores in the prep class. A shortstop now, Martin will need to improve his hands and actions to stick at the position, but he could grow into the power that would allow him to profile nicely at third if he’s forced to move. The one glaring knock on Martin’s profile is his age. He’s one of the older high school players in the class and turned 19 in February. There hasn’t been a high school position player from Colorado drafted among the top three rounds this century, but Martin is in position to do just that. He’s committed to Arkansas.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Martin was not only one of the best prospects in the country’s Four Corners region, he was one of more productive prep players in the nation in 2023. His 20 home runs at Eaton (Colo.) High were the most in the country, and he backed them up with a .636 batting average. The Giants were intrigued enough to make him their second-round pick and sign him for a $2,997,500 bonus that was nearly double the recommended slot. Some teams might have been scared away by Martin’s age. He was 19 for his entire senior season.

Scouting Report: Martin’s greatest allure is his potential as a hitter with a pure lefthanded swing. His swing is short, quick and balanced and allows for an excellent feel for the barrel. Because he didn’t face the same level of competition as would be provided in the more talent-rich parts of the country, Martin might have a steeper learning curve. The Giants would also like to see him add strength and learn how best to deploy his swing depending on the situation he is facing. Martin pairs that hitting ability with outstanding athleticism that helped him star in three sports in high school. He played basketball briefly and was starting quarterback for two Class 2A state champions in football. Martin excelled among his prep peers in Loden testing, an evaluation that assesses athletes’ power, quickness, speed, symmetry and brain speed. He has soft hands and strong footwork, which will help him stick at shortstop for the time being. If he has to move over to third base his average arm strength should play just fine. He is an average runner and has excellent makeup.

The Future: Martin didn’t play after signing, so 2024 will give him his first test as a pro. His ceiling is as an offensive-minded infielder on the left side of the diamond.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50

Draft Prospects

School: Eaton (Colo.) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 19.4
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

Martin is one of the top prospects in the Four Corners region of the country, and in the 2022 summer showcase circuit he wowed scouts with a sweet, lefthanded swing. Martin has a lean and projectable, 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and impressive feel for the barrel with line drive power in batting practice and some pull-side game power as well. He has sound hitting mechanics with quick bat speed through the zone and does an excellent job staying balanced in his lower half, with a steady, quiet head throughout his swing. Scouts raved about his hitting potential, and while he’s mostly a line drive, gap-to-gap hitter now it would be unsurprising to see him get to average power in the future. Martin’s 20 home runs this spring with Eaton High were tops in the country and he also hit .636. Martin has turned in above-average and plus run times in workout settings, and he’s also a terrific athlete with one of the best Loden scores in the prep class. A shortstop now, Martin will need to improve his hands and actions to stick at the position, but he could grow into the power that would allow him to profile nicely at third if he’s forced to move. The one glaring knock on Martin’s profile is his age. He’s one of the older high school players in the class and turned 19 in February. There hasn’t been a high school position player from Colorado drafted among the top three rounds this century, but Martin is in position to do just that. He’s committed to Arkansas.