Chicago Cubs: 3 first round college bats to target in 2020 Draft

Casey Martin, Arkansas

Kjerstad’s teammate, Casey Martin, has followed a similar path in that he’s been a starter from the day he stepped on campus. He stands at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, and while he’s listed as a shortstop, he can play all over the infield.

And with the uncertainty at second base on the big league roster, that’s a huge plus, especially for a guy who can hit for average and power. It’s hard to believe Martin didn’t earn SEC Freshman of the Year honors with the numbers he put up.

In 67 games, he posted .974 OPS with 14 doubles, 13 home runs, and 49 RBI. He was a bit overly aggressive at the plate – 25.4 percent strikeout rate – in 2018, which carried over into his sophomore campaign.

He’s slipped in some draft boards because his numbers last year weren’t as impressive as 2018. However, Martin still posted modest numbers, .912 OPS with 21 doubles, 15 home runs, and 57 RBI. As noted, he struck out quite a bit – 27.9 percent – but has all the makings of a consummate professional ballplayer.

Baseball America even goes after far as calling him the most “toolsy college infielder in the 2020 class”, but they make mention of his aggressive approach. Martin is not likely to fall into the second round, so the Cubs will have to decide if he’s worth the 16th overall pick.