FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  (Aug. 13, 2010) – NSU baseball alumnus J. D. Martinez was named best hitting prospect in the South Atlantic League by Baseball America.

A 20th round pick by the Houston Astros, outfielder J.D. Martinez has exceeded expectations so far in his young career. Martinez, who was signed into the professional ranks by current NSU head coach Greg Brown, was promoted to AA Corpus Christi after leading the South Atlantic League in eight hitting categories this season.

Playing for the Lexington Legends, J.D. ranked first in the SAL League in batting average (.362, second in all minor league baseball), on-base percentage (.433) and slugging percentage (.598). He was second in home runs (15) and RBI (64) at the time of his promotion, which made him the first player in the Astros' 2009 draft class to reach AA.

Martinez has played in 27 games for Corpus Christi and has hit a .337 average over 101 at bats. Martinez has compiled nine extra base hits, three home runs, and 19 RBI’s over that span.

Martinez was also mentioned in this week’s Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet.

Baseball America’s Low A Class Awards