4/17/09

BA "Hot Sheet" on F-Mart

No. 13 FERNANDO MARTINEZ, OF

METS

Team: Triple-A Buffalo (International)Age: 20Why He's Here: .286/.359/.600 (10-for-35), 6 2B, 1 HR, 1 3B, 3 RBIs, 5 R, 3 BB, 9 SOThe Scoop: Two years in Double-A, at ages 18 and 19, followed by a strong turn in the Dominican League last winter have Martinez on the cusp of the big leagues. He leads the minors with six doubles and ranks second with eight extra-base hits, no mean feat for 20-year-old in the Northern Division of the International League. A left elbow injury incurred in spring training has limited Martinez to DH duty, but the Mets expect him to get back on the field this weekend, where he'll cycle through the three outfield posts. "He's a very talented kid," Mets VP of player development Tony Bernazard said. "We have to remember that he's only 20, and if it wasn't for all the injuries, he might be in big leagues already. We expect great things from him, and Fernando expects the same things from himself."

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