Gregg Martin, Worth More - 2773

Northwestern's Gregg Martin was expected to attract some scouts to watch him pitch in a May 1989 series against rival Iowa, The Chicago Tribune wrote.

By that point, Martin was 7-1, with an ERA of just 1.45. His fastball also came in at 88 MPH.

In the end, it was the scout from the Blue Jays that mattered for Martin. That's because it was Toronto who selected Martin in the 21st round of that June's draft.

For Martin, though, a good college career didn't translate into a long pro career. Slowed by injuries, Martin's career ended just four seasons later, never making it to AA.

Gregg Martin's pro career began that June in 1989, the Blue Jays assigning him to short-season St. Catharines. There, Martin got into 19 games, three starts. He went 4-3, with a 4.10 ERA.

For 1990, Martin turned stopper. Playing between single-A Myrtle Beach and high-A Dunedin, Martin saved 22 games while putting up a 2.70 ERA.

Martin came into a jam in a July 1990 contest for Myrtle Beach, but got out of it with two strikeouts and a fly out, according to The Sumter Item. In late-August, Martin picked up his fifth Dunedin save, going 2.1 innings without giving up a run.

Martin returned to Dunedin for 1991, but his season only consisted of 13 outings. In those outings, though, he put up a 1.12 ERA and saved five games. He picked up his third save in early May.

Martin returned to the field for 1992, sent back to Myrtle Beach on a rehab assignment, according to The Toronto Star. Martin got into 39 games, saving 27 of them, but it was his final season as a pro.

Back in 1989, Martin was taken by the Blue Jays out of a baseball family. Martin's brother Jon Martin was taken the year before by the Pirates in the 10th round. Jon Martin had a similarly brief career, just three seasons.

In April 1991, when Jon Martin realized his career was over, he looked at his brother Gregg. Jon Martin had yet to get his degree. Gregg had already gotten his.

"He didn't get the big bucks (in a signing bonus), but his education is worth a lot more," Jon Martin told The Los Angeles Times. "He had to study his butt off, but it's got to give you great peace of mind getting a college degree."

• Chicago Tribune, May 11, 1989: Attracting scouts
• Sumter Item, July 10, 1990: Blue Jays win
• Los Angeles Times, April 24, 1991: After Being Jolted Back to Reality, He Plans to Return to School

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:1,345
Made the Majors: 720 - 53.5%
Never Made Majors: 625-46.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 312
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 185