First hand report on Fernando Martinez

"Fernando is fast. Not sure how fast,exactly (we've become used to comparisons with Jose Reyes), but one of his hits was an infield base knock that he simply out-legged ... on a slow roller to second. He has a long stride. On a standup double that he absolutely roped to left, he was loping into second as the ball was being tossed in. In center field, he also made a play going back to the track, full-stride, on a ball that had sure-gapper written all over it. It was impressive and Beltran-esque. On another play where a H'burg player got a gapper to the wall, Fernando also made a bullet throw from a few steps in front of the track, all the way back to the SS, who was just a step into the outfield grass. It made me and the folks I was with look at each other. A "wow" arm. Oh ... and for anyone interested, he does indeed come to the plate to the Abba tune bearing his name. I imagine that'll change by the time he's playing at the new stadium in Queens."

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"First off, Fernando is a STUD. OMG. He looks like a major league hitter already. In his first AB, he hit a line double down the LF line. Remember, he's a LH hitter. He absolutely roped the ball the other way. In his 2nd AB, he hit a high chop in the IF that he beat out for a hit. The next 2 times up, he got out, but he hit the ball hard twice in the IF, just right at people. His last AB was impressive. It was in the 9th inning aginst a guy throwing gas (94-95 MPH FB) and he was the final out...but man, he fouled off pitch after pitch before rocketing it to the 2nd baseman. He just looks like a major league hitter. Very relaxed, poised, whatever you wanna call it. Whereas Jose Coronado looked outmatched by the same pitcher. There is just something special about Fernando.

Now, Carpie. Whoa. This kid can RAKE. In the first ining he hit a frozen rope double down the RF line to drive in Fernando and he proceeded to line 2 more ropes to CF and LCF in his next 2 ABs. Great bat speed. Solid hitter. The buddy that came to the game with me was impressed that Fernando and Carpie were only 18 and 20 years old. Carp also had a nice diving play on a ball that seemed destined to be a double just over the bag and down the RF line. He jumped up and beat the runner to the bag."

--From NYfuturestars.com