Since taking over as head of baseball operations, Craig Breslow has significantly revamped the organization's approach to run prevention. It is no secret that Boston's draft strategy has been central to that shift. While much has been said about Breslow using 29 selections of a possible 40 on pitchers, the focus on defensive skill and versatility in position players has also been notable.
Maximus Martin, Boston's 10th-round pick out of Kansas State, fits that profile.
Martin was listed as a shortstop on draft day, but his ability to play another premium position as well as a power boost at the plate caught the Red Sox attention.
"My versatility on defense and having power from both sides of the plate helped me get noticed by Boston," Martin said. "I am also able to play two premium positions in the field. I am not saying I am the best outfielder, but it is a position that I just started playing in the last year and a half. I am really learning how to track balls better out there. I think that’s going to be a part of my game that can really help my career in general by being able to up the middle and then also play the whole outfield. Teams need versatile guys that can do that."
While he might be early on in his days of playing the outfield, Martin logged 18 appearances there in college and another four games once he turned professional. The brain trust at Kansas State had intriguing feedback about Martin’s presence out there.
"He has great defensive instincts, especially in center field," Kansas State coach Austin Wates said of Martin. "We had a bigger need out there last year rather than at shortstop. I think he could be a fantastic Swiss-army knife type player which seems to have more popularity now. Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor, Jazz Chisholm, Tommy Edman. Those guys all obviously have huge value for teams and give you the breath of lineup flexibility that a lot of rosters won’t have. Max just needs to continue developing his mental skills and get nestled into the grind of professional baseball. He will embrace it. He works incredibly hard. He has a level of focus and attention to detail that can help set him apart."
On the offensive side of things, Martin had to get acclimated to the pitching he would see right out of the gate. While it is not uncommon for someone to struggle as they make the jump from college, he didn’t let his struggles last too long.
"Making my pro debut opened my eyes to what I’m going to be going through this next season," Martin said. "I love that there are games pretty much every single day. The biggest challenge was the pitching I faced. Everybody you face throws upper 90’s with a whole bunch of pitches. It was about getting acclimated to the pitchers and the game plans. I struggled a little bit for the first week and a half. But after that, I got used to it. It is the same game once I stepped back and thought about it more."
In the small sample size between Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville after the draft, the 22-year-old logged 25 games and collected 24 hits that included six doubles, one home run, and 14 runs driven in.
Being able to hit in pro ball was never going to be in question for those who got a front row seat of Martin for his last year in college in Manhattan.
"A lot of what Max was struggling with was mindset and the ability to compartmentalize and move on," Kansas State coach Austin Wates said. "He already had most of the things he needed physically. He is strong, athletic, twitchy, with really strong hands and bat speed. Where Max struggled was more on the mental side of the game. We certainly made tweaks with his setup and some swing path issues, but overall, the biggest jump he made with us was learning how to have a real consistent approach and identity as a hitter and learning the mental ins and outs of being an everyday guy."
Prior to Kansas State, Martin only logged 14 doubles and 17 home runs in 69 games over his first two college seasons at Rutgers and Georgia State. His highest career SLG to that point was .475 during his freshman season.
Something seemed to click his junior year.
Martin came alive at the plate and collected 18 doubles, 14 home runs, and a .612 SLG, all of which were college career highs.
"I thought the power was going to happen in due time," Martin noted. "I just needed a little bit more time to get stronger and healthy. Early in my college career, I dealt with injuries and missed decent amounts of the season. I lost a ton of weight because of it so I just wasn’t there physically. I was just a leadoff hitter trying to get on base. This past year at Kansas State, it just came together. The guys in the great nutritional department helped me get a little bit stronger. It was a long time coming and it’s going to keep getting better every year. I am super excited for a full season of pro ball to see what I can do."
Photo Credit: Maximus Martin by kstatesports.com
