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The analysts at MLB.com have released their ranking for the top prospects in all of baseball, and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez has earned honors as one of the top 30 prospects in the sport.
No. 30: RHP Carlos Martinez
Ranked 30th overall in the nation, Martinez represents one of just two St. Louis prospects listed, but he is a doozy nonetheless according to MLB.com:
Scouting report: An undersized right-hander who gets compared to Pedro Martinez, he has the stuff to match the comparison. [Carlos] Martinez can reach the upper 90s, even triple digits at times. To complement his plus fastball, he throws an outstanding changeup and a decent curve. He typically has good command, though he clearly lost some feel after his promotion.
Not only does the young righty possess "the stuff," but he reached the Florida State Advanced Single-A league at the tender age of 19 -- two-and-a-half years younger than the average pitcher in that league.
Martinez, by looks, draws some Tim Lincecum comparisons. His official height -- 6'0" -- and weight -- 165 lbs. -- sound more like a typical shortstop, but the MLB.com analysts do not see that being a problem:
Upside potential: Despite his size, he has the stuff to be a frontline starting pitcher.
In two full years in the minors, spanning over 140 innings in 30 starts, Martinez has a cumulative 2.63 ERA. Depending on his progress during the 2012 Spring Training, he may start the year with Cards' Double A affiliate.
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