Blue Jays: Orelvis Martinez breaks Fisher Cats single-season home run record

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently facing the New York Yankees in the Bronx but there is a ton of excitement currently going on down in Hartford, Connecticut where the Jays’ AA affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, is currently playing.

Orelvis Martinez, the Blue Jays #3 ranked prospect, has hit his 28th home run of the season, a shot over the left field wall and into the visiting bullpen. This home run now sees Martinez enter the Fisher Cats record books, as the 28 knocks overtake the single-season total in franchise history.

Cavan Biggio had 26 home runs back in 2018 but the record was previously held by Chip Cannon and Eric Thames, who set the 27 home run record mark back in 2006 and 2010 respectively. Juan Thomas also had 27 knocks when the Fisher Cats were known as the New Haven Ravens back in 2000 when the club was a AA affiliate for the Seattle Mariners (they became the Fisher Cats in 2004).

Martinez has been on the Blue Jays top prospect list for quite some time now and continues to be a player to watch in the Minor Leagues. At just 20 years old, Martinez sits -3.9 years below the league average age but continues to find ways to put the barrel to the ball. His slash line is down from what one may expect at .207/.284/.472 and a .756 OPS entering today’s game against the Hartford Yard Goats but the power is there, as he also has 15 doubles on the year. He also increases his RBI total to 70 on the year.

With a projected MLB ETA at 2023 via MLB Pipeline, Martinez does have some swing and miss to his game, with 120 punchouts compared to 30 walks coming into Sunday afternoon. Splitting time between shortstop and third base, the Dominican product is sporting a .946 and a .958 fielding percentage respectively.

The Fisher Cats regular season continues until September 18th so barring a promotion to AAA or unexpected injury, there is a good chance Martinez can add to the home run record before the campaign is over.