MLB draft hopeful Maximus Martin made some believers at Moorestown
Among them is former All-Star Harold Reynolds, who says of the shortstop, “I was very impressed with him."
It was one swing of the bat and Moorestown High shortstop Maximus Martin insists that it changed his baseball profile if not his life.
A year ago as a junior, Martin and Moorestown were facing Mainland and righthander Chase Petty, owner of the 100-mph fastball. Petty went on to become a first-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in last year’s MLB draft.
Martin stepped to the plate in the third inning and crushed a two-run triple.
Mainland rebounded to win the South Jersey Group 3 semifinal game, 3-2, and Petty allowed four hits while striking out 17.
Yet many of the scouts that Petty attracted that day began writing down Martin’s name.
Petty “had every scout from every single team there watching him and from that, scouts saw my skills and the next thing I knew, right after that game, a lot of scouts got in touch,” Martin recalls. “A lot of them had never heard of me, but I kind of came on late.”
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Even though at the time, Martin had committed to Rutgers, he said he did not have a big profile among the MLB scouting fraternity.
“I was still under the radar — until after that game,” Martin said.
And like all good hitters, he vividly remembers the situation. “It was a changeup, but even his changeup is like 90 [mph] and it still looked like a fastball the way he throws, so I was able to stay on it,” Martin recalled.
Petty was drafted 26th overall by the Twins and since traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where he is pitching for the single-A Dayton Tortugas.
“I knew he was a good fastball hitter and I threw him a changeup on the other side of the plate, low and away, and he took it the other way,” Petty recalled in a telephone interview. “Of course, I did get him the other two times.”
Praise from a foe
Martin did go 1-for-3 in that game, but Petty was not only happy that his Mainland team won but that his Moorestown opponent got some big-time MLB notice.
“It was definitely cool,” Petty said. “He is a really good talent and it makes me feel good he was helped by the situation.”
After that, Martin performed in several high-profile showcases and tournaments last summer and pretty soon all the teams knew about him.
Last month, he attended the MLB combine, where many of the top players eligible for the draft (high school and college) were invited. This year’s MLB draft is Sunday through Tuesday.
After the combine, which took place from June 14-20 at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, Martin was ranked as the 121st player in the draft by MLBcom. Baseball America had him ranked 128th.
“I wasn’t happy with it, but it is where I am and I am constantly working to move up,” Martin said about his ranking.
One person whom the 6-foot, 180-pound Martin impressed at the combine is former major leaguer and current MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds, who studies about 300 of the top prospects in his preparation for the draft.
“Max made a play at shortstop at the combine where he ranged to his right on a ground ball and flipped back to second on a force out and it was really impressive,” Reynolds said in a telephone interview. “I was very impressed with him. He has the tool set, the size, the intellect, and is a really good kid who has a lot of savvy.”
Reynolds, who was a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner at second base for the Seattle Mariners, feels that Martin will prosper regardless of his decision.
“If he goes to college and plays at Rutgers, he will be an impact player immediately in college,” Reynolds said. “If he signs a pro contract, then that will take time to develop, but he will be fine.”
‘All the tools’
An MLB scout who requested anonymity says there is a lot to like about Martin’s game. “I think he is a solid fourth- to seventh-rounder and some people think he can go earlier,” the scout said. “He is very athletic, throws very well off-balanced, and has all the tools.”
Martin said that competing at the combine was a great experience. He got to play shortstop, third base, and second base and said it gave him even more confidence, although he wasn’t lacking in that area to begin with.
“I learned a lot from the older guys, especially the college players there,” he said. “I felt really well about myself and felt I held my own and definitely showcased in front of a large number of people.”
This past season for a 12-7 Moorestown team that lost, 1-0, to Lacey in the first round of the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs, Martin batted .382 with three home runs and 22 RBIs.
Yet it is more than just about statistics when evaluating Martin.
“It was a pleasure coaching him and he is a great kid who works hard, was a great leader for our program,” Moorestown coach Mike Appalucci said. “I have known him since eighth grade and we will miss him and I know he has a bright future ahead, whether it is the draft or if he continues his career at Rutgers.”
That will be the next decision. Martin says he and his family and his adviser will discuss all options.
“Right now we are kind of bearing down on some important issues of signability,” Martin said.
When he finally knows his next destination, Martin admits he will be relieved, but...
“I will be extremely happy,” Martin said. Then he added, “but it’s not over, it’s only starting.”