Carson DeMartini: Virginia Tech star with MLB draft future
BLACKSBURG, Va. (BVM) – Tommy DeMartini was a longtime high school baseball coach in the Virginia area and anytime he headed up to the field, his son Carson tagged along. Whether he was working out, taking batting practice, or even just serving as a bat boy, he loved it.
Now years later, that same kid has emerged as one of college baseball’s brightest stars.
Carson mans the hot corner for Virginia Tech and is arguably the most feared power hitter in the ACC. DeMartini is slugging .722% with 18 home runs in 2024. The junior infielder is a no-doubt MLB draft prospect, with MLB Pipeline ranking him No. 88 in its latest update.
The next great hitter to come out of Virginia Tech is 3B Carson DeMartini. Had a stellar Freshman campaign in 2022 in which he hit .352 with 32 XBH and 50 RBI. Picked up right where he left off last season, hitting .323/.455/.593 with 13 2B, 10 HR, 57 RBI, and more BB than K. Was… pic.twitter.com/WNNQxB9Js1
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) November 2, 2023
His future in the game was not always this clear, but a huge summer leading into his sophomore year of high school changed everything.
DeMartini had played in a handful of local showcase tournaments and began having conversations with some mid-major programs before he received the attention of the Hokies. Head coach John Szefc attended one of his games and ultimately offered him. For DeMartini, who grew up a fan of the school, it became an easy decision.
“I was tiny at the time and I did not look like an ACC-caliber player,” DeMartini said. “He saw a future in me and took a shot on me. Not a lot of coaches did that at that time.”
DeMartini may have been smaller at the time, but he took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown by lifting weights and making the most of his free time. His junior season at Ocean Lakes High School was canceled in 2020, but he came back as a senior with newfound power.
He had 13 extra-base hits in 14 games which resulted in an astounding 1.500% slugging percentage. This translated well to the college game, hitting over .300 as both a freshman and a sophomore while tallying up 25 home runs during that stretch.
Carson DeMartini just hit his 3rd HR of the day, his 5th on the weekend, and his 7th this week.
Oh yeah, and Eddie Micheletti has homered in 5 straight games.
Don’t mess with the Hokies right now, they’ll hammer you pic.twitter.com/HoegITLA1y
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 17, 2024
The hype behind his play has not stopped with a strong junior campaign thus far as Virginia Tech looks to make some noise in the final few weeks before postseason play.
DeMartini looks to be in a high-pressure situation with his draft status and his role with the Hokies, but the culture in Blacksburg allows him to fit in, rather than stand out off the field. He is surrounded by other athletes in other programs who may be in similar spots.
“The athletic department has built a community here where the whole athletic program is tight and connected,” DeMartini said.
Virginia Tech is a school where all of the sports support one another and that was the case when the baseball team made it to the super regionals in 2022. This year, DeMartini is hoping that he can help the Hokies go one step further by making it to the College World Series in Omaha.
Carson DeMartini is gonna be the anchor for this Hokies lineup blasting his first HR of the 2024 season
Slashed .322/.455/.593 with 13 2Bs 10HR and 57 RBI in 2023
Primed to have a monster year
— Overdue Sports (@OverdueSports) February 16, 2024
For the Virginia Beach native, it would be a lifelong dream.
Virginia Tech is looking to get hot at the right time to make that happen. If it can flip the switch over the next few weekend series, the possibilities are endless.
“Once you make the playoffs, anything can happen,” DeMartini said. “Whichever team is the hottest at that time is who rolls.”
