Luis Martinez-Gomez – Pic via Five Tool Baseball

Every year there is always that one pitcher the Cubs take that sends everybody’s scrambling to find out information. This year it was pitcher Luis Martinez-Gomez, who I dubbed LMG. Taken in the 10th round, LMG was not listed on any of the top prospect lists at Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, or Prospects Live. Still, once information began to trickle in, he’s a guy that Cubs fans can dream on as a breakout guy or as Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline called him, “a sleeper.” 

Basic Info

Age – 20
Throws – Right
Height – 6-foot-2
Weight – 178
From – Pomona, California
Drafted out of Temple College in Texas in the 10th round in 2023

Originally from Pomona, California, LMG is what we might call a late bloomer. Between 2019 and 2021, his fastball improved by over 10 miles an hour Which is a pretty good jump for a 16 to 18-year-old. 

But LMG still could be even better. He is 6-foot-two, but there’s plenty of room to add 10 to 15 pounds of muscle easily and increase that velocity which is said to be between 92 and 96. He also throws a curve, a slider, and a split change.

His post-high school career actually began in the Western Canadian Baseball League. He played for Fort McMurray where he made 14 appearances. He had a 2.25 ERA and struck out 76 and 56 innings. 

This past spring found him at Temple College in Texas. He had a 2.83 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 63.2 innings. His final start of the year in the NJCAA regional saw him go seven strong, he allowed just one run on four hits and struck out 10

When watching videos of him, of which there are only a few, there’s a lot to like.

1. There’s not a lot of moving parts. The Cubs aren’t going to have to re-tool his delivery or stance on the rubber. He’s pretty much ready to go.

2. The ball comes out of his hand nice and easy. That’s what I like to call a live arm. There’s not a lot of max effort going on for him, which is a positive.

3. He’s relatively young and he’s had success at two levels sort of coming out of nowhere.

Todd Johnson – North Side Bound

Here is what Dan Kantrovitz told the Marquee Sports Network about LMG:

“It’s a really live, loose arm stroke that he’s got. We think there’s some opportunities to make some tweaks, whether it’s with seam-orientation, whether it’s with just adding a new wrinkle pitch here or there.

Dan Kantrovitz

More than likely, he’ll begin this summer in Mesa, and then probably debut at full season Myrtle Beach next spring. Whether he’s a starter or a reliever, that’s up in the air. But considering his frame, starter might be the long-term goal. He could work as a piggyback guy next year, considering his lack of experience against big-time competition. He’s going to be one of the most interesting follows next year because the Cubs have not been known for taking junior college pitching under Dan Kantrowitz.

I’m excited to see what he can do and if he actually gets in any games this year, which I think he might in Mesa.

2023
RDPickPosPlayerSchoolBonus
113SSMatt ShawMaryland
268SPJaxon WigginsArkansas
381SS Josh RiveraFlorida
4113SPWill SandersSouth Carolina
5149CMichael CaricoDavidson
6176OFAlfonsin RosarioP27
7206SSYahil MelendezB You Academy (PR)
8236OFBrett BatemanMinnesota
92661BJonathon LongLong Beach State
10296SPLuis Martinez-GomezTemple College
11326OFZyhir HopeColonial Forge HS
123562B/OFCarter TriceNC State
13386SPSam ArmstrongOld Dominion
14416RPGrayson MooreVanderbilt
15446SPTy JohnsonBall State
16476RPDaniel BrownCampbell
17506SPEthan FlanaganUCLA
185363BBrian KalmerGonzaga
19566SPNick DeanMaryland
205963BDrew BowserStanford