The Pittsburgh Pirates are just two games out of a playoff spot, and many would argue that this is due in large part to Baseball Reference). Martin isn’t so far ahead of these numbers that what he’s doing is unsustainable, but for whatever reason, the balls he hits are finding more holes than they have in the past. It’s possible that Martin is seeing the ball better, judging by his walk percentage – which is the best he’s had in his career – and a strikeout percentage that’s the lowest it’s been since 2011.

According to our own projections, we have Martin finishing the year with a line of .288/.408/.413, and with a wOBA of .361. These numbers are very similar to FanGraph’s ZiPS Projections, which has Martin at .286/.404/.416, and with a wOBA of .368. Based on either projection, Martin is expected to finish with an OBP of over .400. As of now, there are only two qualified hitters with an OBP of over .400, and neither of them are catchers. Since 2000, a catcher has posted an OBP of .400 or better for a season just 12 times, or less than one a year, making Martin’s season all the more impressive (if he gets there).

Martin has a nERD score of 1.52, which means that if he hit in every spot in the lineup, his team would score 1.52 more runs than a lineup full of league-average players. (For reference, Mike Trout has the highest nERD of 4.00). This number is impressive on its own, but when accounting for Martin’s solid defense, his value becomes that much higher.

McCutchen deserves to be considered the main reason the Pirates are still in the hunt, but overlooking Martin’s contributions – on both sides of the ball – is unfair. I’m guessing that if the Pirates are able to sneak into the playoffs, Martin will have had more than a little something to do with it.