Carlos Martínez (baseball pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Carlos M. Martínez is a relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who is currently a free agent. Marlins' fans have nicknamed him K-Mart. Martínez bats and throws right-handed. He made his major league debut on April 3, .
. He began his professional playing career the following season, at the age of 19, for the Dominican Marlins in the Dominican Summer League
. Initially, he was a starting pitcher
; he started in 14 of his 15 appearances, accumulating a 4-7 record with a 4.50 ERA
.
In , the Marlins converted Martínez into a reliever. In his first season in the United States
, he played for the Gulf Coast Marlins
, finishing with a record of 1-2, an ERA of 1.11, and seven saves. In , he again played in 3 games for the Gulf Coast Marlins and one for the Jamestown Jammers
, but his other 15 games were for the Marlins' South Atlantic League
affiliate, the Greensboro Grasshoppers
; there, he went 0-3 with a 2.95 ERA and one save. He also spent the whole season with Greensboro; in 40 games, he went 2-3 with a 3.17 ERA and 6 saves.
Martínez moved to the Jupiter Hammerheads
of the High-A Florida State League
for the season. There, he became the team's closer
, earning 22 saves to go with a 4-5 record and 3.12 ERA. He was also able to see some time with the Marlins' two top minor-league affiliates; he played in one game for the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
, earning the save, and two games for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
.
Martínez started the 2006 season in relative obscurity, since he had played only three games above Single-A prior to that season. However, in spring training
, he impressed the Marlins greatly, giving up only one run
and two hits
in 8 2/3 innings for a 1.04 ERA. As a result, he beat out another hard-throwing young reliever, Travis Bowyer
, and former Atlanta Braves
closer Kerry Ligtenberg
for a spot in the Marlins' bullpen in 2006; both Bowyer and Ligtenberg had been expected to make the team. The Marlins, who fielded a very young team in 2006, started the season with nine rookies on their Opening Day roster, including five players with no major league experience: Martínez, Dan Uggla
, Eric Reed
, Reggie Abercrombie
, and Ricky Nolasco
.
Martínez appeared in 12 games with the Marlins in 2006, going 0-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 10 1/3 innings of work. He allowed no home run
s, struck out
11 batters, and walked
six. His loss came in his first game of the year on April 9. Martínez pitched in three games in four days from April 13 to April 16; he was then placed on the disabled list
with an injured elbow and did not play with the Marlins again until June 4. After returning to action, he pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings over six games. He made his last appearance of the year on June 22, when he allowed one hit, but did not retire any batters. He then went back on the disabled list, having aggravated his elbow injury; the Marlins shut him down for the season shortly afterward so that he could undergo Tommy John surgery
. He returned to the Marlins on August 3, 2007, and pitched 1 inning while striking out 1 batter and giving up 2 earned run
s.
Martinez was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans on June 4, 2009, thus taking him off the 40-man roster.
along with a split-finger fastball
, a two-seam fastball
, and a slider
. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060319&content_id=1355575&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who is currently a free agent. Marlins' fans have nicknamed him K-Mart. Martínez bats and throws right-handed. He made his major league debut on April 3, .
Playing career
The Marlins signed Martínez out of the Dominican Republic in , as an undrafted free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He began his professional playing career the following season, at the age of 19, for the Dominican Marlins in the Dominican Summer League
Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2011 72-game season begins May 28 and ends August 20...
. Initially, he was a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
; he started in 14 of his 15 appearances, accumulating a 4-7 record with a 4.50 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
In , the Marlins converted Martínez into a reliever. In his first season in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he played for the Gulf Coast Marlins
Gulf Coast Marlins
The Gulf Coast League Marlins are one of the Rookie Level minor league affiliates of the Miami Marlins. The team plays in Jupiter, Florida, at Roger Dean Stadium...
, finishing with a record of 1-2, an ERA of 1.11, and seven saves. In , he again played in 3 games for the Gulf Coast Marlins and one for the Jamestown Jammers
Jamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers are a minor league baseball team in Jamestown, New York, United States. The team is the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Miami Marlins and plays in the New York - Penn League...
, but his other 15 games were for the Marlins' South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
affiliate, the Greensboro Grasshoppers
Greensboro Grasshoppers
The Greensboro Grasshoppers are a minor league baseball team in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA...
; there, he went 0-3 with a 2.95 ERA and one save. He also spent the whole season with Greensboro; in 40 games, he went 2-3 with a 3.17 ERA and 6 saves.
Martínez moved to the Jupiter Hammerheads
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter, Florida, named for the hammerhead shark.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins major-league club....
of the High-A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
for the season. There, he became the team's closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
, earning 22 saves to go with a 4-5 record and 3.12 ERA. He was also able to see some time with the Marlins' two top minor-league affiliates; he played in one game for the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
, earning the save, and two games for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
Martínez started the 2006 season in relative obscurity, since he had played only three games above Single-A prior to that season. However, in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he impressed the Marlins greatly, giving up only one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and two hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 8 2/3 innings for a 1.04 ERA. As a result, he beat out another hard-throwing young reliever, Travis Bowyer
Travis Bowyer
Travis Charlton Bowyer is a relief pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization. He is listed at 6 foot, 3 inches and 210 pounds. He bats and throws right-handed....
, and former Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
closer Kerry Ligtenberg
Kerry Ligtenberg
Kerry Dale Ligtenberg is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.After attending the University of Minnesota in 1994, Ligtenberg signed with the Minneapolis Loons of the independent North Central League. He made 19 starts with them , allowing 103 hits and 44 walks for an ERA of 3.31. He struck out 94...
for a spot in the Marlins' bullpen in 2006; both Bowyer and Ligtenberg had been expected to make the team. The Marlins, who fielded a very young team in 2006, started the season with nine rookies on their Opening Day roster, including five players with no major league experience: Martínez, Dan Uggla
Dan Uggla
Daniel Cooley Uggla is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
, Eric Reed
Eric Reed
Eric Shane Reed is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He is an alumnus of Texas A&M University...
, Reggie Abercrombie
Reggie Abercrombie
Reginald Damascus Abercrombie is a former Major League Baseball outfielder now playing for the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.-Professional career:...
, and Ricky Nolasco
Ricky Nolasco
Carlos Enrique "Ricky" Nolasco is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins. He is listed as 6'2" and 220, and made his major league debut on April 5,...
.
Martínez appeared in 12 games with the Marlins in 2006, going 0-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 10 1/3 innings of work. He allowed no home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
11 batters, and walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
six. His loss came in his first game of the year on April 9. Martínez pitched in three games in four days from April 13 to April 16; he was then placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with an injured elbow and did not play with the Marlins again until June 4. After returning to action, he pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings over six games. He made his last appearance of the year on June 22, when he allowed one hit, but did not retire any batters. He then went back on the disabled list, having aggravated his elbow injury; the Marlins shut him down for the season shortly afterward so that he could undergo Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
. He returned to the Marlins on August 3, 2007, and pitched 1 inning while striking out 1 batter and giving up 2 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s.
Martinez was outrighted to Triple-A New Orleans on June 4, 2009, thus taking him off the 40-man roster.
Pitches
Martínez throws a 96 mph four-seam fastballFour-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
along with a split-finger fastball
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
, a two-seam fastball
Two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball...
, and a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060319&content_id=1355575&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla
External links
- MLB player page
- The Baseball Cube - major- and minor-league statistics