Angels Sign Former Top Prospect, First-Round Pick to Minor League Deal

The former top prospect is heading to Anaheim.

The Los Angeles Angels continue to make moves on the minor league scene. According to Taylor Blake Ward, the Angels have signed former top prospect and shortstop Richie Martin to a minor league deal. 

Angels have signed former top prospect and first-rounder Richie Martin to a minor league deal, Martin has a career 54 OPS+ across three seasons in the Majors

— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) January 12, 2024

Martin, 29, spent the 2023 season with the Washington Nationals' organization in Triple-A Rochester. There, he posted a .642 OPS while slashing .217/.329/.314 with three home runs, 36 RBIs, 78 hits, and 55 runs in 113 games. 

The infielder struggled as a big leaguer with the Baltimore Orioles in parts of 2019, 2021, and 2022. In 170 total games, he slashed .212/.261/.311 with a .572 OPS. He collected 87 hits, seven home runs, 34 RBIs, and 42 runs in 411 at-bats.

At 29 years old, Martin is considered an organizational depth piece. He was once a top prospect in the league, though, after being drafted in the first-round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics.

Martin was ranked as high as No. 4 in the Athletics' organization in 2016, per MLB Pipeline. He just hasn't been able to put it all together between the A's, Orioles or Nationals.

Martin will hope to unlock that potential in Anaheim during the 2024 season. We'll see if he's able to make an impact on the big-league roster at some point next year.