Four Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects That Made An Impact This Spring

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Pittsburgh Pirates
BRADENTON, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 20: Jason Martin #51 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a portrait during the Pittsburgh Pirates Photo Day on February 20, 2019 at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Outfielder Jason Martin

Starting pitcher Joe Musgrove made a huge impact for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. On top of pitching well (3.59 FIP, 2.1 fWAR) Musgrove’s fiery attitude and hustle on the field quickly made him a fan favorite as well. While Musgrove’s impact has already been felt, outfielder Jason Martin may be the next player from the Gerrit Cole trade to make an impact for the Pirates.

At just 23-years-old, Martin will begin the year as the starting center fielder at Triple-A. This comes after Martin reached the Triple-A level for the first time in the 2018 season. When the season begins, Martin will be carrying a ton of momentum with him.

During his time in MLB camp Martin caught the attention of Pirate brass and manager Clint Hurdle. In 12 games, Martin slashed .304/.304/.739 with two home runs, two triples, and he played stellar outfield defense. Martin’s speed was also on display with a pair of stolen bases.

The left-handed hitting Martin will be looking to improve upon his results at Triple-A from last season. In 2018, Martin slashed just .211/.270/.319 with a 22.2% strikeout rate in his first taste of Triple-A action. This spring Martin talked about being more confident than last season and how he believes that will make a big difference for him this season. If Grapefruit League play was any indication, the new found confidence is paying off for the young outfielder.

Martin will be on the doorstep on the Majors when the regular season begins. Barring any major struggles or injuries at Triple-A, Pirate fans can expect to see Martin playing in Pittsburgh at some point in 2019.

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