Fantasy News

• Twins' Austin Martin: Back in lineup Wednesday

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Martin will start in center field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Orioles. Martin saw his streak of eight consecutive starts come to an end in Tuesday's 11-3 loss to the Orioles, but he'll be back in the lineup for the series finale in Baltimore and will be flanked in the outfield by Trevor Larnach and Alex Kirilloff while Byron Buxton serves as the team's designated hitter. Buxton should continue to start in center field more often than not, but Martin could continue to hold an edge in playing time in left field over Larnach, who was called up from Triple-A St. Paul earlier this week. Martin will take a four-game hitting streak into Wednesday's contest.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Called up from Triple-A

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2024

  The Twins will promote Martin from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. The move corresponds with the Twins placing Royce Lewis (leg) on the IL. It'll be the first time Martin has been called up to the majors, and he is expected to add depth at second base and in the outfield. He slashed .208/.321/.250 with two RBI and three walks over 24 at-bats in spring training.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Sent down to minors

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2024

  The Twins optioned Martin to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday. Martin might have had a shot at a reserve role prior to the Manuel Margot trade, but not so much after it. He should still have a chance to debut in 2024 but will report to St. Paul for now.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Back in lineup Thursday

  Rotowire Feb 29, 2024

  Martin (illness) is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Twins on Thursday versus Atlanta in his return to the Grapefruit League lineup. Martin didn't play Wednesday because he was under the weather but is back in there a day later. The versatile 24-year-old is expected to open the season back in the minors but has a good shot to debut at some point in 2024.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Sitting Wednesday with illness

  Rotowire Feb 28, 2024

  Martin was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to an illness, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. The 24-year-old had been in line to appear in his third spring training game, but the Twins opted to give Martin the day off instead while he was under the weather. Emmanuel Rodriguez was a late addition to the lineup and will start in center field and bat eighth in Martin's stead.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Getting time in outfield

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2024

  Martin started in center field and went 1-for-3 in Monday's spring training loss to the Yankees. He's 2-for-5 in two games this spring. After Marin worked exclusively with the infielders early in the spring (he primarily played second base last year at Triple-A), it's notable he played his first two spring training games in the outfield. Martin was seen as a dark horse candidate to win the backup center field role entering spring training, but he's likely ticketed for Triple-A again after the Twins acquired Manuel Margot.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Working with infielders

  Rotowire Feb 20, 2024

  Martin is not moving to a full-time outfield role, manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Martin has only worked as an infielder at the start of camp, but the Twins plan to play him in the outfield this spring as well. Martin didn't make his Triple-A debut until July 3 after missing the first three months of the season while recovering from a UCL sprain in his elbow. He put up a decent, if unspectacular, .791 OPS with six homers and 16 steals over 59 games for Triple-A St. Paul. Martin could be a candidate to be a reserve center field option to begin the season if the Twins don't sign a veteran. However, this news could be seen as Minnesota not looking at him as a viable option in the outfield in the near term, though position flexibility could provide him multiple paths to reach the majors this season. He'll likely begin the season at Triple-A.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Nabs spot on 40-man

  Rotowire Nov 14, 2023

  The Twins selected Martin to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. Martin was acquired from the Blue Jays in 2021 as part of the Jose Berrios trade. He missed a lot of time in 2023 due to a UCL sprain in his right elbow, but the defensively versatile 24-year-old put up a decent .791 OPS with six homers and 16 steals over 59 games for Triple-A St. Paul following his return to action in June.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Moves past foot injury

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2023

  Martin (foot) returned to Triple-A St. Paul's lineup Friday and started in each of the team's last three games, going 5-for-12 with a home run, a stolen base, three runs and two RBI. Martin was removed from St. Paul's game against Toledo last Tuesday due to a foot injury, but he needed just two days off to heal up before returning to action for the final three contests of the series. The 24-year-old has struggled to stay on the field thus far in 2023, as he didn't make his Triple-A debut until July 3 after missing the first three months of the season while recovering from a UCL sprain in his elbow. Over 19 games with St. Paul, Martin is slashing .217/.295/.304 with one home run and three stolen bases across 79 plate appearances.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Returns from elbow injury

  Rotowire Jul 4, 2023

  Martin (elbow) has been activated from the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul. He went 0-3 with a walk in Monday's game. Martin played second base Monday but also played in the outfield during his rehab. Martin had been on the shelf since sustaining a sprained ligament in his right elbow during spring training.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Starting rehab assignment

  Rotowire Jun 5, 2023

  Martin (elbow) is beginning a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Twins on Monday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. Martin has been on the shelf since sustaining a sprained ligament in his right elbow during spring training. The 24-year-old should eventually be assigned to Triple-A St. Paul once the Twins feel he's ready.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Placed on IL at Triple-A

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2023

  Martin (elbow) has been placed on the 7-day injured list to begin the season at Triple-A St. Paul. Martin suffered a UCL sprain in his right elbow in spring training and it's not clear how long he'll be sidelined. Martin largely underwhelmed at Double-A Wichita last year but picked things up late in the season and ended up hitting .235 with two homers, 57 runs, 32 RBI and 34 stolen bases over 90 games.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Out with elbow injury

  Rotowire Jul 7, 2022

  Martin was placed on the 7-day injured list Wednesday at Double-A Wichita after hurting his left elbow diving for a ball, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Martin entered the season as one of Minnesota's top prospects, but he's been underwhelming by hitting .240/.371/.296 with one home run and 22 stolen bases. Martin's elbow injury isn't expected to be a long-term issue.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Struggling with bat

  Rotowire Jun 24, 2022

  Martin has gone just 10-for-48 (.208) with one extra-base hit (a double), two steals and a 5:14 BB:K over his last 16 games for Double-A Wichita. He's slashing .247/.371/.316 with one homer and 22 steals on the season. The good news for Martin is that he's drawing walks at a solid clip and limiting his strikeouts while running surprisingly effectively. The bad news, of course, is that he's hitting the ball with precious little authority. Even while he's warmed up a bit lately, posting a five-game hitting streak, it's been all singles. Widely considered the best pure hitter in the 2020 draft class, Martin hasn't really lived up to that billing yet in the pros. Considering that he's a college bat who's now 23 years old, the clock is ticking for him to start performing up to expectations. If he doesn't turn things around this season, his prospect status will take a major hit.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Heating up in May

  Rotowire May 9, 2022

  Martin went 2-for-6 with a home run and stolen base in a doubleheader Sunday for Double-A Wichita. He's hitting .242 with a .713 OPS with 14 stolen bases. Martin was off to a slow start but is hitting .263 with an .865 OPS with a home run in May. He's displaying his usual strong command of the strike zone with a 13.6% walk rate and 13.7% strikeout rate. His 13 steals are a bit of a surprise. He's been seen as an above-average runner (14-for-18 on stolen-base attempts in 93 games last season), but it may become a bigger part of his game.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: To focus on center field

  Rotowire Aug 3, 2021

  The Twins view Martin as a center fielder but aren't ruling out a return to the infield, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Martin was traded to the Twins last week in the Jose Berrios deal. He's split his time between shortstop and center field at Double-A Portland, but it looks like he'll play center field for Double-A Wichita. The Twins have told Martin they plan to improve his arm strength, as he's seen as having a below-average arm in the outfield. It's also possible that Martin develops into a multi-position player. His bat should play at either position, as he's hitting .281/.424/.383 with a pair of homers and nine steals in 55 games. He needs to show more power, but his on-base skills are already elite.

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• Twins' Austin Martin: Moves to Minnesota

  Rotowire Jul 30, 2021

  Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson were traded from Toronto to Minnesota on Friday in exchange for Jose Berrios, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. The Twins wind up with a strong return in exchange for a year and a half of the best remaining starter thought to be on the market. Martin, the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, comes with plenty of potential for both Minnesota and fantasy teams. He doesn't have an obvious position and doesn't have any one elite skill, but he should do enough of everything to be quite a useful player. He made his professional debut at the Double-A level this season, splitting time between shortstop (where he may not have the arm to stick) and center field and hitting .281/.424/.383 with a pair of homers and nine steals in 55 games.

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• Blue Jays' Austin Martin: Reaches base twice in Futures Game

  Rotowire Jul 11, 2021

  Martin recorded a base hit and a walk in his two plate appearances Sunday in the American League squad's 8-3 loss to the National League in the 2021 All-Star Futures Game. After a brief stint on the injured list in late June and early July, Martin returned to action for six games at Triple-A Buffalo before heading to Colorado for the Futures Game. Martin was able to make an impact off the bench for the AL side, allowing him to return to Triple-A with some momentum. The 22-year-old is slashing .273/.394/.379 with two home runs and five stolen bases across 198 plate appearances in his first professional season.

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• Blue Jays' Austin Martin: Huge day at Double-A

  Rotowire Jun 20, 2021

  Martin went 5-for-6 with two doubles, two runs, a stolen base and four RBI on Saturday in Double-A New Hampshire's 15-2 win over Hartford. Martin extended his hitting streak to 10 games while reaching base a season-high five times on the day. The 2020 first-round pick has faced little resistance from Double-A pitching thus far during his first professional campaign, slashing .295/.403/.426 with two home runs and three stolen bases across 154 plate appearances. A promotion to Triple-A Buffalo could be in the forecast for Martin later in the summer.

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• Blue Jays' Austin Martin: Will play both SS, CF

  Rotowire May 4, 2021

  Martin will split his time between shortstop and center field for Double-A New Hampshire, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. The Jays want to continue the 22-year-old's development at short, but with Jordan Groshans on the Fisher Cats as well, Martin will shift to center when Groshans is at the six. It's not yet clear what Martin's long-term defensive home will be, if he even has one, but at the very least, this suggests the organization isn't sold on Bo Bichette sticking at shortstop in the long term.

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