Like Jaime Garcia in particular, right-hander Carlos Martinez has huge, huge upside. More upside, really, thanks to his rocket right arm and excellent stuff. Just how good are his pitches? Upon is arrival to the big leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, Martinez had already earned the nickname “Baby Pedro.” As in Pedro Martinez, Hall-of-Fame pitcher.
The younger Martinez’ high-90s four-seamer has good sinking action, which causes opposing hitters to hammer it into the ground when they don’t miss it altogether. He throws a very good changeup with sinking action that generally sits in the upper 80s.