Nick Loftin vs. Casey Martin: 2020 MLB Draft Prospect Showdown, Middle Infield Rankings

By Carlos Collazo
on May 25, 2020

Leading up to the 2020 draft on June 10, we'll preview each position group by comparing and contrasting two of the top players in the mix. Today is middle infielders, led by Nick Loftin and Casey Martin.

Previous installments:

Outfielders | Corner Infielders| Lefthanders| Righthanders| Catchers

Hitting: Martin’s freshman season with Arkansas was more impressive than any single season Loftin has produced with Baylor, but Loftin’s approach is more mature, he has fewer holes in his swing and significantly fewer swing-and-miss concerns than Martin. EDGE: Loftin

Power: While Loftin did show increased power production during the truncated 2020 season, Martin has double-digit home run totals in each of his two full college seasons, while Loftin’s single-season high was just six. Martin’s collegiate isolated slugging percentage mark is .235 compared to just .161 for Loftin. EDGE: Martin

Speed: Scouts have called Martin a double-plus runner, and that has translated to 24 stolen bases in 27 attempts during his collegiate career, which is good for an impressive 89 percent success rate. Loftin is more of an average runner. EDGE: Martin

Fielding: Both Martin and Loftin have above-average defensive potential, but they get to it in significantly different ways. Martin is faster and has louder tools that give him more range and a chance to make highlight-reel plays, while Loftin’s internal clock, hands and defensive instincts are more polished and reliable. We lean toward the more consistent defender to settle the tie, and that’s Loftin, who makes all the routine plays. EDGE: Loftin

Arm: Both players have been described as having solid-average or above-average throwing arms, so this category is a push. EDGE: Draw

X Factor: Historically, teams have placed a premium on being a shortstop and performing with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. While neither Martin nor Loftin handled shortstop for Team USA in 2019—that was Arizona State’s Alika Williams—Loftin was on the team in a utility role and hit .292/.280/.583. EDGE: Loftin

Scout's take on Loftin: “He’s a good player. Clean game, clean swing. He has probably a solid-average to above-average tool set. There’s no plus tool. He’s just good makeup, good instincts and probably a 55 hit tool.”

Scout's take on Martin: “Martin fits tools-wise with the guys in the top 10. If someone is confident he will actually be a hitter and not just a power guy, and that he stays at shortstop, he goes extremely well . . . Speed plays as a 70 when they let him go on the bases.”

SPOTLIGHT: Top 2020 Middle Infielders

Strength: 2 stars

A lack of standout high school shortstops diminishes the appeal of this year’s class of middle infielders, especially with perhaps just two pure shortstops—Nick Loftin and Ed Howard—slated for the first round. Nick Gonzales could be a special hitter but faces a probable move to second base.

First-Round Talents
No.	Rank	Player	Pos	School	State	HIT	POW	RUN	FLD	ARM
1	5	Nick Gonzales	SS	New Mexico State	NM	60	55	55	50	50
2	20	Ed Howard	SS	HS—Mount Carmel	IL	40	50	50	60	60
3	27	Casey Martin	SS	Arkansas	AR	40	55	70	55	55
4	29	Nick Loftin	SS	Baylor	TX	50	50	50	55	55
Second-Round Talents
No.	Rank	Player	Pos	School	State	HIT	POW	RUN	FLD	ARM
5	31	Alika Williams	SS	Arizona State	AZ	50	40	50	60	55
6	33	Jordan Westburg	SS	Mississippi State	MS	45	55	60	50	55
7	40	Justin Foscue	2B	Mississippi State	MS	55	55	45	45	50
8	44	Masyn Winn	SS	HS—Kingwood	TX	50	55	60	55	70
9	59	Colt Keith	SS	HS—Biloxi	MS	50	55	60	50	60
10	62	Carson Tucker	SS	HS—Phoenix	AZ	55	50	60	55	55