Biographical stuff on Martin
This is from the Dodgers' PR office:
Martin last week was named the 2008 Georgia State High School Player of the Year by Gatorade after going 11-1 with a 0.99 ERA as a senior at Stephens County High School prior to the Class AAA Georgia State Championship Series last Friday. He also had 141 strikeouts in 79.0 innings of work entering the AAA final series. Martin had entered the season as a Baseball America Second-Team Pre-Season High School All-American.
The 6-foot-2, 195 pounder was named a 2007 AFLAC All-American after his junior season, during which he went 6-1 with 81 strikeouts and a 1.41 ERA.
The 18-year-old is rated by Baseball America as having the second-best fastball among draft-eligible high school pitchers. He is also rated by the publication as having the third-best secondary pitch.
Martin entered the draft as the eighth-best pitcher among draft-eligible players, and the 16th overall prospect, according to Baseball America.
Will get hitting stats as well.
I read on one fantasy baseball website that "The Dodgers had him announced as a third baseman". Is there any truth to this? If so, was he drafted just in case Dewitt, LaRoche and Abreu all don't pan out?
No, he was drafted as a pitcher
In announcing the selection, Bud Selig referred to Martin as a third basemen.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200806052846614
Actually, the last time the Dodgers drafted a high school third baseman named Martin he turned out to be a pretty good catcher.
I think the Dodgers chose what they believed to be the best player available, without regard to whether or not players in front of him pan out. Never a bad idea to stockpile the pipeline with as many good athletes as possible. As a high school selection (3B or pitcher), if he pans out, he's likely 3-5 years away. No telling what the needs will be down the road.