Catching Up With: Harold Martinez

CLEARWATER -- Harold Martinez is looking for a strong start in 2014.

After hitting just .197 in the first half last year, the 23-year old caught fire in the latter part of the season.

Martinez batted .300 in July and .330 in the month of August, finding his stride and benefitting from increased playing time after the promotion of Maikel Franco to Double-A.

"Usually at first it's a little hard at the beginning, and then you start getting into rhythms," Martinez says. "To tell you the truth, I don't know why."

Martinez is a former second-round draft pick, having been selected by the Phillies out of the University of Miami in 2011. He has manned the hot-corner at third base for most of his professional career, while also seeing significant time at first base.

After finishing 2013 with a .272 average, a pair of home runs and 29 RBI, Martinez is currently in minor league camp with the Phillies. He explains that while Major League Spring Training may allow for players already on the roster to get back into baseball-shape and work on certain elements of their game, minor league camp has a different atmosphere.

"Here in the minor leagues you come into camp in-shape, ready to go, because you're fighting for positions," Martinez says.

"You're trying to produce already so you can make a lasting impression on the organization and, God-willing, make a team."

After a strong second-half showing in 2013, Martinez hopes to progress to the next level this season. Above all, he aims to maintain consistency at the plate.

"Wherever they want to send me, I want to make a team," Martinez says.

"I don't put goals numbers-wise, I just work my hardest and have faith that everything's going to work out the best - as long as I work hard and do the best I can, I'm happy with whatever happens."

He concedes that there is room for development in all aspects of his game, but specifically Martinez targets his hitting as the most-needed area for improvement.

"I want to be better at everything. I feel I can prove a lot on every single aspect, but definitely hitting is the thing that's very important.

"I need to be very consistent hitting, and not just have one good half and one bad half - I need to put a full season together."