Having Fun: Inside Riley Martin’s Hot Start with the Pelicans

April 25, 2022 by Sam Weiderhaft

The 2022 season could not start any better for a minor league relief pitcher. Riley Martin, the sixth-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Quincy University, has been unhittable in his first three outings of the season for Myrtle Beach.

Through just over 13 innings, the lefty has already racked up 27 strikeouts to only four walks, just three hits sacrificed, and a 0.68 ERA. To understand how these early-season numbers have come to be, you must look at Martin’s offseason additions.

Following a dominant outing with eight strikeouts and no hits through 4 2/3 innings at Pelicans Ballpark against the Augusta GreenJackets on April 13, Martin mentioned that it was the “best he’s felt in a long time.”

“Having all my pitches working last night was really fun and I’m excited the keep building off of it,” Martin said the day after.

It was an extensive offseason for Martin, who tweaked grips, release points, rubber placement, and just about everything in between to prepare for the 2022 season. His big focus was developing the shape of his changeup, which has already proven to be deadly to opposing hitters.

“In college last year, I probably threw 1,500 pitches and five of them were changeups,” Martin said. “Really worked on it this offseason and threw it a lot in spring training. I knew that coming into the next level that it was going to be a big deal for me to add a third and fourth pitch.”

Martin said that his grip and pitch placement were the keys to making that changeup work. Instead of starting the pitch out on the outside and watching it fall off, he’s been hammering it in the strike zone and seeing more swings and misses.

On top of that, Martin also added a slider into the mix to have something that “moves horizontal.” He changed his curveball grip as well by adding more depth. And don’t forget, his fastball consistently hits the mid-90s.

“Throwing all three of those pitches for strikes makes my fastball look even better,” Martin explained.

For Pelicans pitching coach Clayton Mortensen, it’s been Martin’s ability to find the strike zone that’s been a big difference.

“He’s been more confident in throwing his stuff in the strike zone,” Mortensen said. “He didn’t have to be in the strike zone a whole lot in college so his pitch counts would always skyrocket. We had to make some minor tweaks and changes to his delivery.”

Mortensen mentioned that he had some productive conversations with Martin after his first appearance of the 2022 season in Charleston which has boosted his confidence. With those conversations, Martin now knows what his pitches are doing and is getting a better feel.

“His stuff is doing what it’s supposed to be doing,” Mortensen said. “Nothing is changing week to week which is a great sign.”

With all the changes Martin underwent in the winter, one thing has stood out to Mortensen: He’s having fun.

“I didn’t hear him say that once last year or in spring training,” Morten said. “It’s always nice to sit down and hear a pitcher say that he’s having fun.”

Martin’s name will certainly be at the top of the list for Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April. And, if he continues having fun, his name could rise up the prospect ranks as he moves up in the Cubs organization from Myrtle Beach.