Kyle Martin Taken by the Phillies in the 4th Round

Today, Kyle Martin was taken by Philadelphia with the 114th pick of the Major League Draft. Despite his draft slot having a signing bonus value just under $500,000, Kyle will probably be forced to take a significantly less bonus, as he gave up bargaining leverage by returning for his senior season. Despite this, Martin says he has no regrets about returning to Carolina; "I'm glad I got the chance to put on the uniform on one more time...This year was all about having fun and just enjoying my last year."

Chris Slade had this to say on Kyle Martin after watching him play in April:

Martin showed up this Spring having added ten pounds of muscle and that extra time in the gym has made a difference at the plate...Power is definitely his best tool and when he gets a hold of one like he did on Sunday for the walk off winner it leaves the park in a hot second. He's shortened his swing path and has shown an improved ability to get the barrel out in front this year, tapping into his plus pull power frequently.

However, a large concern for Martin will be how his below average bat speed and athleticism translates to the higher levels (A Advanced - AAA) of the minor leagues. For more coverage on Kyle Martin going forward, check out our sister site The Good Phight.