===  Wear A Helmet, Man ===

I/O HQ: Grade 8D:  Potential is (remains) to become an impact player in the majors, a well-above-average third baseman.

"Naturally strong" hitter who "uses a level swing and the entire field."  Because of this, could potentially hit for AVG as well as PWR.

Approach is too aggressive (no kidding; his EYEs are 0.19 every year - Jeff).  Sometimes looks like he can't get around on a good fastball.

Everything you want at 3B:  soft hands, quick hands, powerful arm, excellent range.

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I/O The Rest:  In 2007, Mario Martinez came out of Venezuela as one of a pair of bonus babies, and he was immediately ranked a top-10 org prospect by Baseball America.

As a teenager.  Twice in a row.

Early on, he was compared to Carlos Beltran and Grady Sizemore.

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Even after 2009 and before 2010, Martinez was in most peoples' org top 10.  Sabermetrically, from an age-arc standpoint, he was justifying it:  at 18, he played well in the AZL rookie league and at 19, he played very well at Everett.

In March 2010, Martinez even got a little spring training action with the Mariners.  This for a guy in the very low minors.

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In 2010, Martinez had trouble in full-season class A ball at age 20.

The result?  He is now on nobody's list at all; not in Sickels' top 38 (!!), not in Churchill's top 30, not in BP's top 20.

Talk about flipping over the handrail and busting the sidewalk with your head.  (I actually knew a guy who took a big chunk of concrete out of the ground with his head.  Don't try it at home, unless your wife is reallllllllllly devoted...)

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Martinez' videos:  tape :- ) on Martinez confirms HQ's take entirely.  Just go back and read the I/O HQ section and SSI will sign off on all of it, from what we see.

Martinez has an ARod type body ... well, Beltran, anyway ... strong chest and arms, slim waist, obviously could crush a pop can in his left fist.  Before it was opened.  Don't get carried away, kiddies:  Mike Morse has that physique too.

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Martinez' swing looks real good:  compact to the ball, gets the arms extended on all kinds of pitches.  Takes the ball to RF with authority for a kid his age.

In fact ... IFF he makes contact he reminds of Edgar a little bit, the way he'll extend the arms and just lace the ball into any random section of the ballpark, with essentially the same body position for all of it.

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SSI Crunch on Martinez