M's sign Cuban Outfielder

[Nateyb24]

The Mariners have agreed to sign Dominican outfielder Hersin Martinez to a deal worth $1.1MM, the Dominican Prospect League announced. The prospect has “tremendous plus raw power and a high projection ceiling,” according to the league release.

Martinez won the inaugural DPL power showcase with an impressive showing that included one 507-foot homer. He's a below average runner but can play the outfield and has a solid-average arm, the release states.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/04/mariners-to-sign-hersin-martinez.html

[Travis]

Any idea on which level he starts out at?

[Mariners51]

Yay another Dominican hacker!

[georgmi]

More details at Baseball America (http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/04/mariners-sign-hersin-martinez-for-1-1-million/), including this helpful tidbit (emphasis mine):


He has a hitch in his swing, which causes him to get underneath the ball and gives him trouble against velocity. When he strides he gets out on his front foot and can blast the ball to his pull side, but he has trouble going up the middle and using the opposite field, even in BP.

Seems like we already have a billion guys like this in the minors, but hey, if one of them puts it all together, right?

[Mariners51]

Between him, Castro and Pimental, one of them have to be decent.

[Igoe4Mariners]

This is pretty much what we have to hope for and bank on when we can't get elite FA hitters to sign with us.

[HGKnights]

Hoping to find an official release on this signing. I'm pretty sure he'll be in the minors, the guy is only 17 years old!

[Igoe4Mariners]

Hoping to find an official release on this signing. I'm pretty sure he'll be in the minors, the guy is only 17 years old!

No doubt. It will be about 3-5 years until he sees the majors, if ever.