MLB

METS’ MARTINEZ MAKES MAJOR-LEAGUE DEBUT

Bobby Parnell played with Fernando Martinez at three different minor league stops: Binghamton, St. Lucie and Hagerstown.

He saw Martinez compete at multiple levels.

“I felt like he was able to keep up,” Parnell said.

Parnell’s in the majors and doing quite well. Today Martinez joined him.

The Mets’ top prospect was summoned from Triple-A Buffalo and slotted sixth in the lineup, playing right field and wearing No. 26 against the Nationals.

FOLLOW GAME HERE

The Mets signed Martinez on July 2, 2005, giving him a $1.4 million bonus. He’s been an extremely hyped talent since — a phenom, perhaps, considering he’s 20 years old — and flourished in Buffalo this year.

The lefty hit .291 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 42 games, collecting 25 extra-base hits, an International League-best.

“He’s young. He’s got a lot of natural ability but he’s still young,” Tim Redding, who pitched two games for Buffalo this year, told The Post. “He’s got a lot to learn. But he’s got the skills to be here. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.”

The Mets seemed to handle Martinez’s promotion poorly. After he arrived prior to the game, PR man Jay Horwitz prohibited reporters from speaking to him.

But hitting coach Howard Johnson seemed pretty optimistic about Martinez’s chances for success.

“What I really like is his bat speed,” Johnson said. “He’s got tremendous bat speed.”

Martinez took a 3 p.m. flight to New York, arriving in the Mets clubhouse a few minutes before 6. And he was in the lineup; Jerry Manuel didn’t want to waste any time.

“When I get a young player, I like to put him in the lineup right away,” the manager said. “I like to put him in there and see what he can do. I give him every opportunity not to come here and sit back and think about first hit and all that type of stuff.”

Additional reporting by Mike Puma