Giants Select High School Sensation Walker Martin in Second Round of MLB Draft
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants made a splash in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft by selecting high school shortstop Walker Martin with the 52nd overall pick. Martin, who hails from Colorado, had a senior season that looked more like something out of a video game than real life.
Martin, who was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, put up mind-boggling numbers during his senior year. In just 29 games, the left-handed hitter smacked an impressive 20 home runs, drove in 75 runs, batted .633, and had a jaw-dropping 1.632 slugging percentage. Even accounting for the high altitude in Colorado, Martin’s performance stood head and shoulders above the competition.
MLB Pipeline ranked Martin as the 30th best player in the entire draft, adding to the excitement surrounding the Giants’ selection. This move brings back memories of last year’s draft, when the Giants were able to snag Carson Whisenhunt in the second round after considering him with their first-round pick. This time around, the Giants chose two-way prep star Bryce Eldridge in the first round and were fortunate enough to still get a player they had their eye on with their second-round pick.
While Martin had to wait longer than he had hoped, he made history as the first Colorado high schooler to be selected in the first three rounds since 1997. According to the Denver Post, Martin agreed to a deal worth well over the slot value of the pick after dropping out of the first round. The Giants have a track record of success with this strategy, as they were able to secure Kyle Harrison in 2020 using a similar approach.
The Giants weren’t done after selecting Martin. They also have the 69th overall pick, a compensation pick for losing Carlos Rodón to the New York Yankees in the offseason. The Giants will be looking to continue their draft success and add more promising talent to their organization.
As Giants fans eagerly await the arrival of Martin and the rest of the Giants’ draft class, they can also stay up to date with all things Giants by downloading and following the Giants Talk Podcast.
The future looks bright for Martin and the Giants, as they aim to build on their successful draft history and continue their quest for another World Series title.