Austin Martin Named To MLB Futures Games
Toronto's top hitting prospect is getting some recognition.
Toronto's second-ranked prospect, and top hitter, Austin Martin, will represent the team at the 2021 MLB Futures Game in Denver.
Martin was one of 50 baseball prospects chosen to participate in the event, following Toronto's Bo Bichette and Nate Pearson who participated in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
The Vandy Man Can 🚗
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 30, 2021
Congrats to @austin_martin99 on being named to the @MLB #FuturesGame! ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/OvbS2FY0Ss
Martin, Toronto's first-round pick drafted fifth overall last year, has appeared in 38 games for AA New Hampshire this season. In his first year of professional baseball, Martin has slashed .275/.391/.394 with two homers and four stolen bases. The shortstop/outfielder is one of a dynamic Fisher Cats lineup that includes top catching prospect Gabriel Moreno, former first-rounder Jordan Groshans, and the power-hitting Samad Taylor.
New Hampshire's lineup leads the Double-A with 6.04 runs per game with the highest batting average and on-base percentage in the league.
Martin is one of 32 members of MLB's Top 100 Prospects List to be included in the Futures Game. Fellow 2020 draft picks Spencer Torkelson will also represent the American League alongside his Tigers teammate Riley Greene. Martin is the only member of the Blue Jays system invited to the game, while AL East rivals Baltimore, New York, and Tampa Bay all have multi representatives.
Top prospects from the American League and National League will square off on July 11th at Coors Field during the MLB All Star Game festivities. The game will be seven innings long and will be streamed on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network.
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Mitch Bannon is a baseball reporter for Sports Illustrated covering the Toronto Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates.Twitter: @MitchBannon