Could Corbin Martin Flourish in the Bullpen?

The centerpiece to the Zack Greinke trade may find a home in the Diamondbacks bullpen.

Corbin Martin was once the centerpiece in the Zack Greinke deal in July 2019. A pitcher who could hit 98 MPH with an above-average spin rate, two very good breaking pitches, and a changeup, Martin was considered a potential top of the rotation prospect when the Diamondbacks acquired him. However he has not been able to turn that talent into results, as the former second rounder has been hit hard as a starter in the big leagues. 

Last year, he made the Opening Day roster as a long reliever but spent most of the year as a starter with Triple-A Reno. He made two starts last season, allowing five runs in eight innings with seven strikeouts and six walks. The combination of poor health and performance has prevented Martin from establishing himself in the big leagues as a starter. The organization decided the best route for him to move forward will be in the bullpen in order to get the most out of his impressive stuff.

According to manager Torey Lovullo, the young pitcher has been up to 97 MPH on his 4-seam fastball and thrown some really sharp breaking balls in live batting practice sessions. The D-backs manager praised his young pitcher for "how hard he's worked to get to put himself in this position". Lovullo gets excited when "guys are issued a challenge, accept that challenge, and push forward. He's been doing that the past couple times I've watched him".

Live BP featuring Gabriel Moreno vs Corbin Martin. Martin’s four-seam has looked outstanding this morning. pic.twitter.com/AzdSVcCyQS

— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) February 23, 2023

With the impressive start so far this spring, it would appear that Martin has the inside track for one of the final bullpen spots. Martin was listed as one of the prime candidates in the organization to be converted to relief. 

Seeing his fastball not only hit the upper 90s, but also holding its line very well at the top of the zone is an encouraging sign. Martin's entire arsenal starts with the fastball, which he threw 55% of the time in 2022, and then going to his slider and curveball for swings and misses. As a reliever not only can he simplify his arsenal, but could experience a small velocity bump throwing only max effort. Considering all the additions the team has made, a permanent move to the bullpen for Martin could end up turning into the best move towards shoring up the bullpen.

Even with the potential upside as a reliever, there isn't much of a projection towards how Martin would do in a specialized relief role. His career in relief consists of seven appearances in low leverage situations or long relief. With more success coming out of the bullpen, his role could increase as the season goes along.

In the event Martin does not make the Opening Day roster, they can send him to Reno without exposing him to waivers. He still has one option remaining, with a fourth option granted due to not accruing five full seasons after being drafted. That gives the D-backs flexibility to send him up and down to Reno for one more season. 

More Updates from Lovullo

Third baseman Evan Longoria has been out with the past couple days due to an illness.

Lovullo named Ryan Hendrix and prospect Bryce Jarvis as other pitchers that have left a strong impression in camp. Hendrix was a minor league signing this offseason and Jarvis currently sits as the No. 15 prospect in the system.

Prospect Drey Jameson and Ryne Nelson will start the two split squad games on Saturday. Jameson will pitch at Hohokam Stadium against the Oakland Athletics and Ryne Nelson will face the Rockies at Salt River Fields. Jeurys Familia, Andrew Chafin, Carlos Vargas, Ryan Hendrix, Mitchell Stumpo, Kevin Ginkel, and Miguel Castro are scheduled to pitch after Nelson at Salt River Fields. Sam Clay, Jesse Biddle, and Stefan Crichton are scheduled to pitch in Mesa.