Shairon Martis

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2005
R:  2-1-1, 1.85 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 34.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 13.2 K/9

Martis had a very good US debut, with an extremely high K rate.

2006
A (SF):  6-4-0, 3.64 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 76.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
A (Wash):  1-1-0, 3.80 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 21.1 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 5.9 K/9
A+ (Wash):  0-2-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 5.2 K/9
AA (Wash):  0-1-0, 12.60 ERA, 2.20 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 5.4 BB/9, 1.8 K/9

Martis pitched well as a starter in low A for the Giants, until they traded him to the Nationals in late July.  The Nationals moved him all the way up to AA.  He avoided walks but didn’t strike out a great many batters.  He allowed only five HRs total until he got to AA, where he allowed four in five innings.

2007
A+:  14-8-0, 4.23 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 151.0 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Spent the entire season in high A.  His ERA wasn’t as good as some of his other numbers, except his walk rate, which was low.  He turned 20 just before the season started, so for his age it was a good showing.

2008
AA:  4-4-0, 3.98 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 74.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.9 K/9
AAA:  1-2-0, 3.02 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 41.2 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 9.1 K/9
MLB:  1-3-0, 5.66 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 20.2 IP, 5.2 BB/9, 10.0 K/9

Martis pitched decently at age 21 in AA, then pitched better after a late promotion to AAA.  He held his own in a September callup.

2009
AAA:  4-4-0, 4.96 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 74.1 IP, 2.2 BB/9, 4.8 K/9
MLB:  5-3-0, 5.25 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 85.2 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 3.6 K/9

Martis opened the season in the Nationals’ rotation, making 15 starts before they sent him down in late June.  He didn’t pitch especially well in the majors, striking out fewer than he walked and having modest gopher problems, allowing 11.  He didn’t pitch very well after going back to AAA, either.

2010
AAA:  8-7-0, 4.09 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 152.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Martis went back to AAA and had a mediocre season, with a still-low K rate.

2011
AA:  8-6-0, 3.05 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 133.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 9.9 K/9

The Nationals met with Marte before the season started and told him to get in better shape.  They then kept him in extended spring training early in the season before sending him to AA.  He pitched very well there, including a good K rate for the first time since early in his career.  He pitched at 24, so his age wasn’t completely inappropriate for the level.

Martis will probably provide AAA depth for the Pirates.  It’s not unlikely that he could end up in the majors with them, at least briefly.  He’s riskier than somebody like Brian Burres, but also has more upside.  He started the season at Indianapolis, but in the bullpen.