Yankees Have a Rising Power Bat You've Probably Never Heard Of

The New York Yankees' offense definitely showed clear signs of missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton over the weekend, as the team mustered just three runs over the final two games of their three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.

Stanton has been sidelined since late April, and Judge last played on May 31. The Yankees have been able to manage without their two top sluggers, but you have to wonder just how much longer the offense will stay afloat.

New York will almost certainly be very active in trying to add another bat between now and the MLB trade deadline, but is it possible that the Yankees could actually have an internal answer?

And no, I'm not talking about Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez.

New York recently promoted outfielder Garrett Martin from Double-A to Triple-A thanks to a torrid start to the campaign, and with Martin being 25 years old, a big-league promotion may not be too far into the future.

Martin is slashing .270/.341/.569 with 22 home runs and 55 RBI over 299 plate appearances this season, representing quite a breakout campaign for the former Baltimore Orioles draft pick.

The Orioles never actually signed Martin, who proceeded to play his collegiate baseball at Oklahoma State and Austin Peay. The Yankees then snatched him up as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Martin has been relatively unknown ever since, this even though he won the 2024 Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby. He is not listed among New York's top 30 prospects at MLB.com, and most fans have probably never heard of him.

But it might be time to start becoming familiar with the 6-foot-3, 217-pound slugger.

Martin is a lifetime .232/.318/.441 hitter in the minor leagues, so it's not like he should have been on anyone's radar before. But clearly, something has clicked for him in 2026, and it could ultimately result in a call up at some point this season.

Now, the Yanks don't have much room in their outfield. When everyone is healthy, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Judge occupy the three starting spots. Jones and Dominguez are next in line. Jose Caballero and Max Schuemann are entirely capable of playing outfield, as well.

But if the Yankees end up starving for offense in the meantime, is it possible Martin could be called upon?

We've seen New York do this in the past, and names like Shane Spencer and Shelley Duncan immediately come to mind. Spencer, in fact, ended up having some staying power and was a major contributor in three World Series runs.

Martin can actually play all three outfield positions, so he brings some versatility to the table. And while no one will confuse him for a Gold Glover, he is a pretty solid defender who can hold his own.

Again, the Yankees' outfield is pretty crowded right now as it is. But if Martin continues tearing it up at Triple-A, can New York continue to let him sit in the minors?

The Yankees may have to consider elevating him to the majors at some point this season. Or, perhaps his rise could result in New York being able to include him in trade packages before the deadline.

Yankees Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Yankees. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.