Detroit Tigers: An early check-in on possible first overall picks

As previously suggested, if the Detroit Tigers can stick to the “Vandy Plan” with Austin Martin, things could go quite well for the coming years.

The Vanderbilt Commodores were 2019 national champions with Austin Martin being a part of that group after a break out season. In 2020, Martin has stepped up and taken a more prominent role in the Vanderbilt lineup. The 6-foot, the 170-pound infielder, has evolved into a utility role to be able to get into the lineup as much as possible from multiple positions.

He is a versatile infielder who predominantly plays third base when in the infield, but also has seen time at shortstop as well as time out in centerfield. This season he has seen all of his playing time at third base of centerfield for the Commodores.

In fifteen games, Martin has posted a slash line of .347/.492/.633 with three home runs and nine RBI on the season. Five of his knocks have been doubles, he has walked ten times, wore a pitch five times, and only been punched out twice.

For the analytics fans, his BABIP through fifteen games is .348 with an ISO of .224 on the season. He has swiped three bags on four attempts as well for the Commodores, who have not been the number one ranked team this season, but still are in the top ten.

In terms of his swing, he drives the ball well, doing an excellent job of barreling up pitches and finding gaps. He is mostly a pull-hitter who lives in the left-center gap looking at his spray charts. He can be a little aggressive early on in the count.

But when he does make contact with that first pitch, he has done an excellent job of finding a way to sneak a single through the gap or finding some room in the outfield grass. Hopefully, he can continue his success with the Commodores, who are looking to get back to Omaha this June.