5. Nolan Martinez
With their pick in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft, the New York Yankees selected right-handed pitcher Nolan Martinez out of Culver City High School in Culver City, California.
Martinez was the definition of lights out in his senior year, which led the Yankees to heavily scout him. He pitched to an 8-2 record with a 0.49 ERA, striking out 81 batters in 56 2/3 innings.
The 18-year old has a fastball that usually sits around 89-92 m.p.h. and can reach 95 as well as a changeup and curveball which he is still working on.
His same fastball had the highest recorded spin rate, of 2685 rpm, at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in 2015, which is significant because it makes the pitch much tougher to hit.
Martinez was one of the youngest players to be drafted in the 2016 draft, being just 17 years old on draft day and not turning 18 until three weeks after. This prevented the right-hander from competing in the minors for the majority of 2016 due to age restrictions.
In just seven innings pitched spread out through three starts, Martinez sported a 3.86 ERA with just three strikeouts and surrendering four walks with the Gulf Coast League Yankees.
The right-hander is expected to play a full season for the 2017 campaign and hopefully prove to the organization why they made the right decision in selecting him in the third round of last year’s draft.
