Martel brings strikeout juice and late-inning upside to Illinois
Olivier Martel is a junior RHP for Illinois whose calling card is swing-and-miss stuff: in 2026, he authored his longest outing of the season with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings, and later added a scoreless appearance that marked his fourth shutout outing of the year. He also flashed real summer-ball punch, posting 21 strikeouts in 13.2 innings with a 0.00 ERA for Eau Claire in 2026. At 5'10", he may not be the frame you brag about at family dinners, but the arm plays — he looks like a useful high-leverage fit if your staff wants competitive, K-heavy relief potential.
