Confidence, swagger, and the ability to believe in yourself are traits that can’t be bought with money, they can’t be faked by words, and they don’t come easy. They have to be earned, day after day, through hard work and life’s experiences and especially through its adversities. Payton Martin is an 18-year-old, who has these traits in spades, so, although he might just be getting started with the Dodgers, he has poise and perspective well beyond his years. 

His potential is big, his process is elite, and his future is headed for a Hollywood ending. 

Wise Beyond His Years 

Martin was drafted in the 17th Round of the 2022 Draft out of West Forsythe High School in Clemmons North Carolina and is well-known as an extremely hard worker, a great person, and a supremely talented baseball player. He transferred to West Forsyth as a Sophomore and became a 2-way star playing both shortstop and pitching and made great memories as a Titan.

I transferred to West my Sophomore year, which was the Covid year, and my coach was Brad Bullard who is an amazing guy and an amazing coach. He knew the game very well. Coach Willard was hilarious too so going to West was an easy choice. I would say it was definitely a fit for me because it felt like family 

Martin also left those that were a part of his High School career with the belief that he has all the “its” needed to make it.

Here’s what his Head Coach in High School, Brad Bullard, had to say about the young fireballer. 

The kid is special! Not many kids have the work ethic and mental/physical traits that he does. It’s going to be fun to watch his future unfold!

Coach Bullard went on to add

Payton is one of the most mature players I have ever had the opportunity to coach. His dedication and sacrifice to his game are top-notch.

ECU

Martin had plenty of options after High School, but the one place that felt the most like home was in Greenville, NC, the home of the East Carolina University Pirates. Coach Godwin has built a Purple Pirate powerhouse, and everyone on campus took the time to make sure Martin knew he was more than welcome on campus. 

But, although playing for a program that is currently ranked #12 in the Country, and for a Campus full of what Martin calls “good people”, was certainly a big draw, it ultimately wasn’t his end goal in the game of baseball. So, when the Dodgers drafted him in the 17th Round, they provided him the opportunity to fulfill what has always been his dream, and that was to be a professional baseball player.

Martin packed up his stuff and headed West for the first time in his life and made his dream a reality when he flew to L.A. and signed his contract with the Dodgers. 

Dodgers

His mother, who Martin credits for almost all of his success, got to go with him as well, so the experience was a surreal event, one that couldn’t have gone much better, and also one he will never forget. Becoming a professional baseball player was always the goal, and with one fell swoop of a pen, that goal was reached. Martin had officially become a Dodger, which, by happy circumstance, is also his mom’s favorite team, so everything fell into its proper place.

Here’s what Martin had to say about that experience.

I had never been West and I actually brought my mom with me so that was awesome. I grew up my whole life watching people sign contracts, and I was like, dang, must be nice.

With a big Payton Martin grin, he added

I’m pretty sure my hand wouldn’t even stay on the paper because I was shakin’ because it was a big moment, certainly one of the top moments in my life.

Feature Cut

Martin came to the Dodgers as a high-level 2-way player as both a shortstop and a pitcher. The Dodgers, however, recognized his arm talent and the way he carries himself with confidence and transitioned him to a full-time pitcher. 

When you’re used to hitting 4-hole and playing shortstop every day, getting transitioned to a role that only puts you on the field every 5 days can be tough. But, it’s one that Martin has not only embraced but he’s also flourished in and learned to enjoy. He topped 94 in High School, but, just a few months later, is sitting 94-97 with the Quakes. 

Here’s what he had to say about the transition to becoming a pitcher only, what baseball players call POs. 

It’s a lot easier on the arm. The Dodgers taught me what to do in terms of being a PO because we throw every day. In High School, we threw every day, but it was more like I would pitch one day, then play shortstop the next. So that was like every day with no break, and that actually prepared me for what I have going on here. So, the transition hasn’t been too hard, and it’s been really fun.

In High School, Martin had just 2 pitches. His fastball topped at 94, and he had a slurve, that, once he got to the Dodgers, got separated into both a slider and curveball. He has also added a changeup to his mix to be a 4-pitch pitcher. 

As a credit to Coach Bullard, Coach Willard, and the entire coaching staff at West, the Dodgers haven’t changed any of his mechanics, because they didn’t have to. His delivery is smooth, his breaking stuff is tight, and his athletic ability is very noticeable. Check it out for yourself, and just as a note, this is not a highlight reel. To give the viewer a realistic perspective of Martin’s stuff, I have included every pitch of a full inning in this video. 

Finishing Up 

Martin is still filling out his body, so the 94-97 will keep growing. He could very well, and easily be a guy that sits upper 90s and top 100 as he continues to grow, gain weight, and get stronger. When you combine that with 3 other pitches that are very good, his incredible work ethic, his “Dawg” mentality, and his overall presence of confidence, it’s easy to get excited about his future. 

Another aspect of Martin’s development with the Dodgers is the Scout that noticed him and got him signed, Jonah Rosenthal. Jonah, if you remember, is the Scout that also noticed Jake Pilarski, and got him signed out of Indy ball, so this guy really knows how to identify talent. 

Beyond that, he also knows how to culture relationships as every player I have talked to has raved about how Jonah gets to know them as a person and shows great care and concern from that perspective. 

Professional baseball players, like Martin, make such a hard game look so easy, and, as fans, sometimes we forget they are humans just like you and I. So, to have a Scout, inside of an organization that focuses on those aspects of young guys’ lives, and careers, is impactful beyond any words I can type. So, for that, congrats to both the Dodgers and Jonah for taking a young man from Clemmons North Carolina, who had never been West, and making him feel right at home smack dab in the Middle of California, clear on the other side of the country. 

In closing, I would like to thank Payton for joining for an interview and allowing me to tell at least a small part of his story. Since I reached out he has been nothing but gracious, and for that, I am very thankful. I am super pumped to watch this young man rise through the organization and Dodgers Daily will be rooting for him all along the way.