Chris Martin (baseball)

Christopher Riley Martin (born June 2, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Chris Martin
Martin with the New York Yankees
Atlanta Braves – No. 55
Pitcher
Born: (1986-06-02) June 2, 1986
Arlington, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 26, 2014, for the Colorado Rockies
NPB: March 26, 2016, for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record3–11
Earned run average4.09
Strikeouts154
NPB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Win–loss record2–2
Earned run average1.12
Strikeouts91
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Pitched an immaculate inning on September 11, 2019

Martin played baseball at Arlington High School and McLennan Community College, but gave up on baseball after he suffered a shoulder injury. After working in a warehouse for three years, Martin began playing catch, and felt strong enough to try out for independent league baseball. After he pitched for the Grand Prairie AirHogs in 2010, the Boston Red Sox of MLB signed Martin in 2011. He pitched in Minor League Baseball for the Red Sox organization, until they traded him to the Rockies after the 2013 season.

Martin made his MLB debut for the Rockies in 2014, and was traded to the Yankees after the season. He signed with the Fighters after the 2015 season, and with the Rangers after the 2017 season. The Rangers traded Martin to the Braves during the 2019 season.

Amateur career

Martin attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, where he pitched for the school's baseball team. In 2004, his senior year, the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association named Martin to their Class 5A All-State team.[1] The Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected him in the 18th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Martin did not sign with the Tigers, as he planned on attending college.

He enrolled at McLennan Community College, where he played college baseball for the McLennan Highlanders. After his freshman year at McLennan, he received interest from the college baseball programs representing the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas at Austin.[2] However, he had not taken his studies seriously, and did not have enough course credits to transfer.[3]

The Colorado Rockies of MLB selected Martin in the 21st round of the 2005 MLB Draft. He returned to McLennan for his sophomore season, with the Rockies following his progress while deciding whether or not to offer him a contract. Martin suffered a shoulder injury while pitching for McLennan as a sophomore, and the Rockies opted not to offer him a contract.[4][5] Martin was diagnosed with a torn labrum in the shoulder of his pitching arm, and he underwent surgery to correct it.[6]

Professional career

Martin was not selected in the 2006 MLB Draft. After graduating from McLennan, Martin signed with the Fort Worth Cats of the United League Baseball, which is independent from Major League Baseball, for the 2007 season. Though Martin made the team out of their tryout camp, he did not pitch in a game for the Cats due to discomfort in his shoulder. A doctor recommended Martin undergo surgery to repair the labrum and the articular capsule of the humerus.[5] Rather than undergo surgery, Martin quit professional baseball. He went to work loading trucks for UPS at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, moving refrigerators for Lowe's, and stocking washing machines and clothes dryers in an appliance warehouse in Arlington.[4][5][7][8]

Martin and Jordan Bostick, a coworker in the warehouse and a former high school baseball teammate, began playing catch in the warehouse. Martin noticed that his shoulder felt stronger, and with encouragement from Bostick, he agreed to attempt to play professional baseball again.[9]

Grand Prairie AirHogs

In 2010, after three years out of baseball, Martin tried out with the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the independent American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, and signed to play for them.[7][10] He had a 4–0 win–loss record and a 1.96 earned run average (ERA) for the AirHogs.[4]

Pete Incaviglia, the AirHogs' manager, started contacting MLB teams to discuss Martin.[3] Before the 2011 season, the Boston Red Sox offered him a tryout during spring training.

Boston Red Sox

After practicing at their training facility, the Red Sox signed Martin to a minor league contract.[11] The Red Sox assigned Martin to the Greenville Drive of the Class A South Atlantic League to begin the 2011 season. Later in the year, the Red Sox promoted Martin to the Salem Red Sox of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League and then the Portland Sea Dogs of the Class AA Eastern League. Across the three levels, Martin had a 6–2 win–loss record and 2.55 ERA in 23 appearances. Martin pitched for Portland in 2012. He began the season as a starting pitcher,[12] but was moved back to a relief role later in the season. He ended the 2012 season with a 4.48 ERA. In 2013, Martin worked exclusively in relief. He had a 5–3 win–loss record with a 2.25 ERA and five saves in 42 games pitched, split between Portland and the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Class AAA International League during the 2013 season.[5]

Colorado Rockies

After the 2013 season, the Red Sox traded Martin, along with pitcher Franklin Morales, to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for infielder Jonathan Herrera.[13][14] The Rockies insisted on Martin's inclusion in the trade.[7] Martin began the 2014 season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[15]

The Rockies promoted Martin to the major leagues for the first time on April 25, 2014.[15] Martin made his major league debut on April 26, pitching a scoreless inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched a total of ​15 2⁄3 innings for Colorado, recording a 6.89 ERA while striking out 14 and allowing 22 hits,[16] before the Rockies demoted Martin to Colorado Springs in June.[4] He pitched the rest of the season for Colorado Springs, where he had a 4.39 ERA.[17]

During the 2014–15 offseason, the Rockies agreed to sign Nick Hundley. The Rockies designated Martin for assignment on January 5, 2015, in order to remove him from their 40-man roster, so that the Rockies could sign Hundley.[18]

New York Yankees
Martin pitching for the Yankees on October 3, 2015

The Rockies traded Martin to the New York Yankees on January 13, 2015, receiving cash considerations.[19] Martin competed for a spot in the Yankees' bullpen in spring training, and was named to the Yankees' Opening Day roster.[20] On April 28, 2015, Martin recorded his first career save in a 4–2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.[21] Martin began the season with a 0–1 record and a 3.55 ERA in ​12 2⁄3 innings pitched across 15 appearances, before he went on the disabled list on May 9 due to tendinitis in his right elbow.[22][23] The Yankees activated Martin from the disabled list on May 31, and optioned him to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the International League.[24] The Yankees recalled Martin from the minor leagues on June 11 for the injured Andrew Miller,[25] and optioned him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 19.[26] He finished the 2015 season with a 0–2 record and a 5.66 ERA in 24 games pitched for the Yankees.[27]

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

After the 2015 season, the Yankees sold the contractual rights to Martin to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League for $750,000.[27] At the time, he had a career 6.19 ERA in ​36 1⁄3 innings in MLB.[28]

Martin succeeded Hirotoshi Masui in the role of closing pitcher for the Fighters in 2016. He made the Pacific League All-Star team, but injured his ankle in September, missing the end of the regular season[29][30] and the 2016 Japan Series.[31] He finished the 2016 season with a 1.07 ERA and 21 saves.[32]

The Fighters re-signed Martin for the 2017 season for ¥100 million (approximately $900,090).[32] He had a 1.19 ERA with the Fighters in 2017. Between his two seasons in Japan, Martin struck out 91 batters and walked 13 in ​88 1⁄3 innings.[28]

Texas Rangers

On December 15, 2017, Martin signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Texas Rangers.[33] He recorded a 4.54 ERA in ​41 2⁄3 innings pitched in 2018.[34] After the 2018 season, Martin represented MLB in the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series from November 8–15.[35] When Rangers' closer Shawn Kelley went on the injured list in May 2019, Martin filled in for him.[36] Martin and José Leclerc received save opportunities when Kelley was injured in July.[37]

Atlanta Braves

On July 30, the day before the 2019 trade deadline, the Rangers traded Martin to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Kolby Allard.[38] On September 11, 2019, Martin pitched an immaculate inning in the bottom of the seventh against the Philadelphia Phillies.[39]

In 2019 between the two teams he was 1-3 with four saves and a 3.40 ERA in 58 relief appearances, striking out 65 batters in 55.2 innings.[40]

The Braves included Martin on their roster for the 2019 National League Division Series, but he injured an oblique muscle while warming up in Game 1 and was removed from the roster.[41]

A free agent after the 2019 season, Martin re-signed with Atlanta on a two-year contract worth $14 million on November 19.[42][43]

In 2020 he was 1-1 with one save and a 1.00 ERA in 19 relief appearances spanning 18 innings, in which he struck out 20 batters.[40]

Pitching style

Martin is listed at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg).[44] He throws a fastball that averages 95 miles per hour (153 km/h).[5][45] He also throws a slider, a splitter, and a cut fastball.[44]

Personal life

Martin is the youngest of four children born to Connie and Matt Martin. His three older siblings, Crystal, Jonathan, and Shannon, all played baseball or softball. Crystal played softball at the collegiate level for the Texas A&M Aggies as their shortstop, and was named an All-Big 12 Conference selection during her collegiate career.[5]

References
  1. "High School Baseball All-Star Teams". Plainview Daily Herald. Associated Press. June 14, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  2. Fraley, Gerry (May 5, 2014). "Texas Rangers could face appliance store worker". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  3. Chen, Albert (May 19, 2014). "Albert Chen: Chris Martin's remarkable journey from warehouses to MLB bullpens". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. DiPietro, Lou (January 14, 2015). "Chris Martin's long baseball road has gone from warehouse to Ruth's house". YES Network. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  5. Marshall, Ashley (January 7, 2015). "Former Colorado Rockies right-hander Chris Martin refused to give up on his childhood dream". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  6. Henry, John (May 7, 2014). "Arlington High grad returns as real-life Rockie story". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  7. Renck, Troy E. (March 6, 2014). "How Chris Martin, a hard-working warehouse employee, became a Rockies bullpen candidate". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  8. Jennings, Chad (February 12, 2015). "Chris Martin: From the warehouse to the Yankees". LoHud Yankees Blog. The Journal News. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  9. Fraley, Gerry (May 6, 2014). "Rags-to-riches: Rockies pitcher just five years removed from warehouse job in Arlington". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  10. Paisley, Joe (April 10, 2014). "Warehouse worker turned Sky Sox reliever, Chris Martin, relishes second chance in pro baseball". The Gazette. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  11. Forde, Craig (May 21, 2013). "Chris Martin, from warehouse to clubhouse". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  12. Thomas, Kevin (April 27, 2012). "On Baseball: Warehouse, to showing his wares". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  13. Edes, Gordon (December 18, 2013). "Franklin Morales dealt to Rockies". ESPN. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  14. "Rockies acquire LHP Franklin Morales and RHP Chris Martin" (Press release). Major League Baseball. December 18, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  15. Harding, Thomas (April 25, 2014). "Reliever Martin reaches big leagues for first time". Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  16. McCarron, Anthony (January 14, 2015). "Yankees intrigued by the potential of righty reliever Chris Martin: The newest Yankee reliever was acquired Tuesday from the Rockies for cash. His path to the big leagues has taken him through jobs at UPS, Lowe's and Texas Appliance, in and out of independent ball, and past a serious shoulder injury". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  17. Saunders, Patrick (January 13, 2015). "Rockies trade RHP Chris Martin to Yankees for cash". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  18. "Nick Hundley and Rockies finalize $6.25 million, 2-year deal". ESPN. Associated Press. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  19. Hoch, Brian (January 13, 2015). "Yankees acquire righty Martin from Rockies". Major League Baseball. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  20. Mello, Igor (April 4, 2015). "Report: Chris Martin awarded a spot in Yankees' bullpen". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  21. Wise, Brandon. "Yankees reliever Chris Martin earns first save of the year". fantasynews.cbssports.com. CBS Sports Fantasy News. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  22. Guardado, Maria (May 9, 2015). "Yankees place Chris Martin on 15-day disabled list". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  23. "Yankees place Martin on DL". Belleville News-Democrat. The Sports Network. May 9, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  24. "Yankees activate Chris Martin, option him to Triple-A". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  25. "Yankees request reinforcements, call up Chris Martin, Mason Williams". The Star-Ledger. June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  26. Hatch, Ryan (June 19, 2015). "Yankees transactions: Chris Martin optioned, Bryan Mitchell and Branden Pinder called up". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  27. "Yankees Sell Right-Hander Martin's Contract Rights To Japanese Team". CBS New York. Associated Press. November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  28. https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article190049109.html
  29. Allen, Jim (October 2, 2016). "Fighters used improved pitching, defense to capture Pacific League pennant". Japan Times Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  30. "Fighters closer Martin sidelined with ankle sprain". Japan Times Online. September 6, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  31. "Carp, Fighters fired up for Japan Series opener". Japan Times Online. October 21, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  32. "Fighters retain pitchers Mendoza, Martin". Japan Times Online. November 25, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  33. Sullivan, T. R. (December 15, 2017). "Rangers sign reliever Martin to two-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  34. Coskrey, Jason (November 10, 2018). "Rangers pitcher Chris Martin happy to return to Japan with MLB All-Stars". The Japan Times Online.
  35. "MLB announces roster for All-Star Tour in Japan". MLB.com. October 29, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  36. "6 key questions surrounding the Rangers".
  37. Associated Press (July 22, 2019). "Rangers place closer Shawn Kelley on 10-day injured list". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  38. Mark Bowman (July 31, 2019). "Braves land reliever Martin from Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  39. Paul Casella (September 12, 2019). "Martin throws Braves' fifth immaculate inning". MLB.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  40. "Chris Martin Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  41. "Oblique injury sidelines Atlanta Braves reliever Chris Martin". ESPN.com. October 3, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  42. Casella, Paul (November 19, 2019). "Reliever Martin signs 2-year deal with Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  43. "Reliever Chris Martin back with Braves on 2-year, $14 million deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  44. Hatch, Ryan (April 9, 2015). "Yankees pitcher Chris Martin becoming Joe Girardi's first go-to reliever". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  45. "Chris Martin goes from appliance warehouse to Yankees' bullpen". Newsday. Associated Press. February 7, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
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