New York Mets Give Up On Former Top Prospect Fernando Martinez

Published: 9^th Jan 12 8:21 pm

Craig Williams
craigwilliams

RANT It!

Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

Fernando Martinez, 23, has been placed on waivers by the New York Mets. The move was made in order to create room on the 40 man roster for the recently signed Ronny Cedeno and Scott Hairston. Considering Fernando Martinez was the organization’s No. 1 prospect on more than one occasion, you would think that the New York Mets might have been able to find someone else to cut ties with. Apparently not. It’s not even as if he deserved the extra chance though. There have probably been some significant “outside” forces holding Fernando Martinez from reaching his potential – injuries and the possibility that the Omar Minaya regime was too aggressive with his development. Excuses are convenient, but the bottom line is that he just couldn’t cut it when he did play.

It is always disappointing when a top prospect and the hopes attached to him fizzle out with a whimper. That is life as a baseball fan and a prospect hugger though. You just hope that there are enough gems to come through the system to offset the overwhelmingly higher number of charcoal briquettes that fans are dealt. As young as Fernando Martinez still is, he figures to get more than one more shot to realize his potential. It just won’t be with the New York Mets.