It’s like Christmas — with a signing bonus.

Today, Ethan Martin will see his future unfold before his eyes, and what a future it could be.

The Stephens County infielder/pitcher and Clemson signee is projected as a mid-first round pick in the Major League Baseball amateur draft, which kicks off at 2 p.m. for an ESPN2 telecast.

If Martin is selected in the range Baseball America projects for him — in the No.16-17 positions — he stands to receive a $1.5 million signing bonus, based on contracts signed by 2007 draftees. Both Martin and his father, Terry, said that if he attains first-round status, he is all but certain to forego a college career.

“I’ve just been told since January that I have a good shot at getting drafted in the first round,” Martin said this week. “Basically, it’s just like Christmas, with the presents waiting on you.”

With two dominant high school seasons as a hitter behind him, Martin became a true dual threat this season, leading Stephens County to a Georgia Class AAA runner-up finish.

In 39 games as a shortstop/third baseman, he had 18 home runs, 46 RBI and 46 runs with a .509 batting average and 1.130 slugging percentage. He was equally impressive on the mound, rolling up a 10-2 record with eight complete games and a save, allowing only 39 hits and striking out 162 while walking 40 in 94 innings, compiling a 1.50 ERA.

“I guess he’s one of those God-given blessed talents that comes along once in a blue moon,” Stephens County coach Mark Gosnell said. “He’s got great power with the bat, extremely good skills in the field and great baseball knowledge.

“He runs up there and throws 96-97 (mph) off the mound with two other pitches (split-finger fastball and slider-curve) to go with it. You don’t have the opportunity to coach those types of kids every year — you get lucky in your career to have a kid who can do all that.”

All who know him say Martin is incredibly competitive.

“Every team he’s played on has won,” said Terry Martin. “He doesn’t know how to lose.”

That has also fueled his improvement this season.

Martin has worked extremely hard on pitching and control, particularly with his off-speed pitches, which has made him a complete pitcher and two-way prospect.

As a result, he has no idea if his career will begin as a pitcher or hitter. Martin says major league scouts are “half and half” about his future prospects.

“To tell the truth, I don’t care,” he said. “There are pros and cons. I’d like to play every day, but with pitching, I like the excitement and controlling the game. Whatever team drafts me is fine.”

By all accounts, he’s handled the draft process’s pressure well, even the 16 scouts who attended every Stephens County game. Today is just the final step.

“(Stephens County football coach Travis Noland says) he ought to be on the West Coast,” Terry Martin said. “All he cares about is the next big wave to come, and it rolls off his back. That personality has carried him through this.”