Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Virginia Tech has built a recent reputation of developing hitters who go early in the Draft, with six players taken in the top five rounds over the previous two, led by 2022 first-rounder Gavin Cross. DeMartini has been part of the offensive upswing since his freshman year in ’22, posting an OPS over 1.000 in his first two seasons. A shoulder injury forced him to a DH role for much of the 2023 season, and surgery to repair his labrum kept him out of fall action. He returned to the lineup and the field in the spring, and while the power returned, so did some concerns about his approach.

DeMartini is a compact and strong left-handed hitter who looks to do damage. He has a power-over-hit profile with plenty of bat speed to drive the ball, with extra-base authority to all fields. After striking out in 25 percent of his plate appearances in 2022, he trimmed that to 17 percent as a sophomore by cutting his chase rate on breaking stuff, seeing a lot of pitches and upping his walk rate. He was still drawing free passes as a junior, but the K rate jumped back up, with some wondering if the repaired shoulder had forced a swing change that added holes in his path.

A shortstop in high school, DeMartini moved over to third base at Virginia Tech with fringy footwork and hands. He had plenty of arm for the hot corner before the surgery, but he’ll have to prove his repaired shoulder is 100 percent. A move to left field could be in his future, but it’s the power potential a team will be buying in the first few rounds.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Virginia Tech has built a recent reputation of developing hitters who go early in the Draft, with six players taken in the top five rounds over the previous two years. DeMartini had been part of the offensive upswing since his freshman year in ’22, posting an OPS over 1.000 in his first two seasons. A shoulder injury forced him to a DH role for much of the 2023 season, and surgery to repair his labrum kept him out of fall action. He returned to the lineup and the field in the spring, and while the power returned, so did some concerns about his approach. But the Phillies saw enough offensive upside to make him the seventh Hokie to go in the top five rounds in the past three years, signing for full slot as a fourth-round pick.

DeMartini is a compact and strong left-handed hitter who looks to do damage. He has a power-over-hit profile with plenty of bat speed to drive the ball and extra-base authority to all fields. After striking out in 25.2 percent of his plate appearances in 2022, he trimmed that to 17.1 percent as a sophomore by cutting his chase rate on breaking stuff, seeing a lot of pitches and upping his walk rate. He still drew free passes as a junior, but the K rate jumped back up, with some wondering whether the repaired shoulder had forced a swing change that added holes in his path.

A shortstop in high school, DeMartini moved over to third base at Virginia Tech with fringy footwork and hands. He had plenty of arm for the hot corner before the surgery, but he’ll have to prove his repaired shoulder is 100 percent. A move to left field could be in his future, but it’s the power potential the Phillies were really buying.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/01/2024	SS Carson DeMartini assigned to Clearwater Threshers.
	07/23/2024	Philadelphia Phillies signed SS Carson DeMartini.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated 3B Carson DeMartini.
	04/13/2024	3B Carson DeMartini assigned to Virginia Tech Hokies.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated SS Carson DeMartini.
	04/05/2023	SS Carson DeMartini assigned to Virginia Tech Hokies.
	04/15/2022	SS Carson DeMartini, , and assigned to Virginia Tech Hokies.