BLACKSBURG — Carson DeMartini is named after former quarterback Carson Palmer.
But DeMartini has a talent for hitting baseballs instead of throwing soccer balls.
The junior third baseman went on to become one of the best home run hitters in Virginia Tech baseball history.
DeMartini hit 43 home runs in three seasons, tied for fifth on the Tech career list with Mike Conte.
Conte and the top four players on that list all played at Tech in the 1980s.
So not only has DeMartini hit more home runs this decade than any other Hokie, he’s also hit more home runs than any other Hokie in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.
“I don’t think there’s anything better than hitting a home run and running around the bases and throwing a hammer.” [in celebration],” He said.
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DeMartini’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. He was rated the No. 88 prospect in the nation in this year’s Major League Baseball amateur draft by MLB.com last month.
“I worked really hard to get to this place,” he said.
‘Strong personality’
DeMartini, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 197 pounds, grew up in Virginia Beach. When he wasn’t playing baseball, he was surfing or wakeboarding. During his summer job in high school, he kayaked and took other kayakers out to sea to see dolphins.
DeMartini, whose mother graduated from Tech, verbally committed to the Hokies the summer before his sophomore year at Ocean Lakes High School. Tech was the only school in the Power Five to offer him a scholarship.
“He was probably one of the best left-handed infielders in the state at the time,” Tech coach John Zefke said.
It wasn’t until his senior year in high school that DeMartini became a power hitter.
“It just happened naturally because I got a little stronger,” he said. “The loft in my swing helped with that.”
“He didn’t really develop physically until late in high school,” said his father, Tommy DiMartini, who coached Carson in travel ball and high school.
DiMartini started as a freshman on a Tech team that won the 2022 Coastal Division title and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals.
“Having the regionals and super regionals was second to none,” he said. “I’d be willing to give up everything I’ve ever gained to go back to that place. Nothing could have been better than that time.”
Assuming DeMartini is drafted in July, he will join 10 other members of the 2022 team who have already been drafted.
That year, he batted number 9 in a stacked batting order that included Gavin Cross, Tanner Chauvel, Jack Hurley, Nick Vidison, and Cade Hunter. DeMartini is the only member of that starting lineup remaining with the Hokies.
“He’s got a pretty strong personality. He joined the 2022 team as a true freshman and played with older players. He’s always done well as long as he can step in in big moments.” I was able to handle myself,” Sefuku said.
DeMartini batted .341 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs, earning him a spot on the ACC Rookie Team.
“I didn’t expect to hit 15,” he said. “I’m not thinking about it myself.” [preseason] There was one thing about home runs. It was more of a double and a hard hit. ”
“Educated batter”
Last year, DeMartini batted .323 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs. He made the All-ACC third team.
“He’s a pretty educated hitter,” Shefk said. “He can analyze opposing pitchers pretty well through video and scouting reports, and he can plan out games pretty well.”
In April 2023, DeMartini suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder while diving headfirst into second base.
“When he was very young, 9 and 10 years old, I said, ‘Carson, you can’t keep jumping in headfirst.’ It’s not safe,” his father said. “He didn’t stop.”
This injury limited DeMartini’s appearance as a designated hitter for the remainder of that season.
“I was able to swing it somehow,” he said. “I couldn’t throw. … I talked to the doctors and they said, ‘If you can tolerate the pain, you’re totally fine.’ [the rest of the season as a DH]”
He underwent surgery after the season.
DeMartini leads the Hokies this year in home runs (18), RBIs (50), RBIs (53) and slugging percentage (.688).
“When I put it on the barrel and stood up, I hit it hard to where it needed to go.” [the fence] In most cases. ” he said.
DeMartini hit seven home runs in four games in March and won the National Player of the Year award.
“He’s strong and he’s probably learned how to lift the ball a little bit more than when he first came in,” Sefuk said.
DeMartini’s batting average has fallen to .282 this year. He had a team-high 59 strikeouts.
“I struck out a little too much this year,” he said.
Last month, DeMartini was named to USA Baseball’s 45-man midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, which honors the best amateur baseball player in the United States.
Sefuk said opponents are throwing DeMartini cautiously this year.
“He sees more spin than changeups,” Sefuku said. “He’s got a little spot on his back.”
Despite being considered for this year’s draft, DeMartini said he doesn’t feel any pressure from major league scouts watching from the stands.
“For the past three years, we’ve had scouts in the stands,” he said. “Even if they don’t see me, [specifically], they were still watching. It’s…the same concept as my freshman year when I came here to watch Gavin, Tanner, Biddy, Cade and the rest of the guys. ”
The Hokies (31-15, 13-11), who host Miami for three consecutive games starting Friday, are aiming for their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. On Wednesday morning, Baseball America projected Tech to enter the NCAAs in late May as the No. 3 seed in a four-team district hosted by East Carolina.
“We just want to get there,” DiMartini said of the NCAA. “If we get to that point, anyone can win.”
Sefuk said DeMartini is bigger, faster and stronger than when he joined the Hokies.
But DeMartini said he also grew in other ways at Tech.
“The biggest difference… is the mental aspect of the game,” DeMartini said. “Deal with failure and realize it’s not about you, it’s about the team and it’s about winning.”
“He’s always been wise beyond his years when it comes to baseball, but…the last three years at Tech really helped him grow in terms of dealing with the successes and failures of the game. ” said the father.
DeMartini said he feels ready for professional baseball.
“He’s mature enough, well educated, and as long as he stays productive, he should be able to move through the minor league organization relatively quickly,” Shefke said. “He reminds me a little bit of a guy named Kevin Smith that I used to date at Maryland. He’s in Triple-A with the Yankees now. … They can really analyze and think about the game. .”
This will likely be DiMartini’s last college season. He may play professional baseball this summer.
“It’s always nice to think about it,” DeMartini said. “One of my goals since I was little was to play college baseball and then hopefully get drafted and play professional baseball. It’s nice to know that I’m so close to that goal.”
