This is the fourth part of a 10-start series wrapping up the minor league season. Today we’ll take a look at the most disappointing position prospects in the Mets and Yankees systems.
———-
Few have questioned the sheer talent of Fernando Martinez. But after yet another injury plagued season this year, everyone is wondering if his body will let that talent express itself.
Martinez, in his fifth full season in professional baseball, has yet to play more than 90 games in a season, thanks to a variety of ailments that have repeatedly left him on the shelf. This year, F-Mart dealt with knee and hamstring injuries that limited him to 75 games.
It wasn’t all bad news for him, however, as the outfielder finished with a career high 12 home runs in those 75 games, marking the first time he’d ever hit double-digit homers in a season.
As long as Martinez has been around in prospect circles, the one thing in his favor is his age. Amazingly, the lefty-swinger turned 22 Sunday. He will probably be back in Triple-A next year, given that Jason Bay, Carlos Beltran and Angel Pagan are all almost certain to be back in 2011.
If he is able to overcome his previous injury troubles, the Mets could have a middle-of-the-order hitter for a long time on their hands. If not, though, he could quickly become the next Alex Escobar – a prospect hyped for what seemed like forever, who never amounted to anything.
———-
It’s hard to call a guy who played this season at 19 a disappointment, almost no matter what he did, but that is the case with outfielder Kelvim De Leon – both a product of the Yankees’ strength in their minor league system this year, as well as his struggles with the Staten Island Yankees.
De Leon hit .236 with six homers in 69 games with the Baby Bombers, though, more importantly, he struck out 80 times in 259 at-bats, compared to 17 walks. That has been his problem throughout his early professional career, as he has entered the season with 135 strikeouts – and 50 walks – in 436 career at-bats.
De Leon will likely get a shot at Low-A Charleston next year. But with young talents in the outfield like Melky Mesa and Slade Heathcott excelling this year, as well as the Yankees spending several of their top 10 draft picks in June on toolsy high school outfielders, De Leon will have to make significant strides in 2011 if he doesn’t want to become an afterthought in the Yankees’ increasingly deep system.
tbontemps@nypost.com
