Dodgers Announce Move With 22-Year-Old Pitcher

The Tulsa Drillers, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, activated right-hander Payton Martin from the 7-day injured list on Thursday, returning the 22-year-old starter to the Texas League roster for the stretch run, via the MiLB transaction log.

Martin, born May 19, 2004, in Clemmons, North Carolina, is listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds. The Dodgers selected him in the 17th round of the 2022 draft (No. 525 overall) out of West Forsyth High School and signed him for $125,000 after he had committed to East Carolina as a shortstop.

A late look on the mound as a high school senior changed the plan. Four years later, he is in his first full season at Double-A.

This is Martin’s second injured-list stint in a month. Tulsa placed him on the 7-day IL on August 12 and activated him August 29. He went back on the list September 2 and is now back after the minimum stay.

The club has not specified the injury. He has also missed time in prior seasons, including a 7-day IL trip with High-A Great Lakes in August 2025.

In 22 appearances (21 starts) this year with Tulsa, Martin is 5-3 with a 5.73 ERA over 99 innings. He has allowed 113 hits and 9 home runs, walked 45, and struck out 81, good for a 1.60 WHIP.

The numbers show a pitcher who has worked deep into a starter’s workload at a new level, even if command and hits allowed have been issues.

After a rough April, he settled in at points during the summer, including a stretch of quality starts highlighted locally in June. His minor-league career line is 17-14 with a 4.35 ERA in 292 innings and 265 strikeouts.

Scouts still like the raw ingredients. MLB Pipeline ranks him the Dodgers’ No. 22 prospect. His best pitch is a tight slider in the upper 80s that generates chases.

The fastball has sat 92–94 mph and touched 99, with carry when he locates it. A changeup remains a work in progress. Evaluators note athleticism, a quick arm, and an up-tempo delivery; the questions are fastball command, changeup consistency, and holding velocity over a full starter’s workload.

Getting Martin back gives Tulsa another innings option as the Texas League season winds down and the Dodgers continue to develop arms who can handle Double-A bats.

For a former infielder still only 22, the next few outings are about proving he can stay on the mound and throw strikes after two