Former Miner enjoying another stellar summer season

PALMER — During the 2015 summer season, former Mat-Su Miners reliever Corbin Martin was arguably the top set-up man in the Alaska Baseball League.

The Texas A&M product owned the late innings, ending the season with a perfect 0.00 earned run average in 16 appearances. Martin, an incoming junior with the Aggies, is pitching across the country as a member of Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League. And once again, Martin is enjoying a perfect summer.

As of Saturday, Martin held a 0.00 ERA. That’s nearly two full summers of baseball, without allowing an earned run, pitching in the top two summer collegiate amateur leagues in the nation. It’s a stat that’s almost too difficult for Mat-Su Miners head coach Ben Taylor to comprehend.

“That’s almost unimaginable,” said an elated Taylor, who brought Martin to the Valley last summer.

Taylor said Martin has a variety of traits that allow the 6-foot-3 righty to standout.

“First it’s his velocity,” Taylor said.

Taylor said Martin routinely threw higher than 93 miles per hour, and touched 97, during his summer with the Miners. The fourth-year Mat-Su head coach said Martin has a plus-slider, and his fastball is even better. A third pitch, Taylor said, could vault Martin to baseball elite.

“He’s got first-, second-round stuff,” Taylor said of Martin’s potential in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. “If he’s throwing a third pitch with command, he’s a first-round pick.”

In nine games in the Cape this season, he’s saved four games and has 15 strikeouts compared to only one walk. Last season with the Miners, Martin worked in 16 games, finishing with 27 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Martin is currently one of four former Mat-Su Miners playing in the Cape Cod League, which generally draws the most attention among summer collegiate baseball amateur leagues. Two of the four were named to the Cape Cod All-Star Game.

Hyannis left fielder Jordan Rodgers was named a starter on the West Division All-Star squad. Hyannis pitcher James Harrington also was named to the West team.

Rodgers, who played for the Miners in 2014, is hitting .279 with 20 runs, 29 hits and 23 RBI for the Harbor Hawks. In 2014, Rodgers, a University of Tennessee product, batted .288, with 23 hits, 12 runs and 12 RBI for the Miners.

Harrington, another member of the 2015 Mat-Su pitching staff, is 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 appearances with the Harbor Hawks. In eight games with the Miners last year, the New Mexico right-hander finished 5-3 with 26 strikeouts and a 2.14 ERA in 50 1/3 innings.

A third member of the 2015 Miners pitching staff, Gonzaga southpaw Calvin LaBrun, is also playing in the Cape Cod League for Orleans.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.