Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Four Curve Players Pushing for a Promotion

First baseman Mason Martin

Out of the four players on this list first baseman Mason Martin is the one who likely still needs the most time at the Double-A level. The 22-year-old slugger has hit for a .244/.317/.504 slash line to go with a 119 wRC+ through his first 145 PAs this season.

Big power has always been the story for Martin, as evident by his .260 ISO thus far. He has hit 7 home runs and is recording extra base hits at an 11.7% rate. That said, there continues to be big questions about Martin’s contact and hit tool.

Martin is striking out at a 35.2% clip thus far in 2021. In his professional career he now has a 31.2% strikeout rate. Obviously, this mark is far too high, as well as being borderline alarming. Due to needing to improve his hit tool and cut down on the strikeouts is what could keep Martin at Double-A longer than the other three players on this list.

With no other true first base prospects on the horizon Martin remains the likely Pirate first baseman of the future. That future, however, will hinge on him being able to cut down on the strikeouts while also making more contact. That said, the power Martin has flashed is what has Martin pushing for a promotion to Triple-A.