Nick Martinez (baseball)

Nicholas Andres Martinez (born August 5, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Nick Martinez
Martinez with the Fighters in 2018
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – No. 37
Starting pitcher
Born: (1990-08-05) August 5, 1990
Miami, Florida
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 5, 2014, for the Texas Rangers
NPB: March 31, 2018, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Win–loss record17–30
Earned run average4.77
Strikeouts237
NPB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record12–18
Earned run average3.86
Strikeouts159
Teams

Amateur career

Martinez graduated from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, Florida, and enrolled at Fordham University. He is the 34th Fordham alumnus to make it to the Major League Baseball (MLB). He was 1-3 with a 5.33 ERA in 15 games, over two seasons for Fordham as a relief pitcher. He was mostly a second baseman, batting .295 with 4 HR, 66 RBI, 167 hits, and 22 stolen bases over three seasons and 148 games.[1][2] In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] He also played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League for the Vermont Mountaineers. He is the seventh Mountaineer to make it to the MLB.[4]

Career

Texas Rangers

Martinez was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, out of Fordham University.[5]

Martinez was named the Rangers' fifth starter on March 26, 2014.[6] In his first career start against the Tampa Bay Rays, Martinez went six innings, struck out three and allowed three earned runs on four hits. He received a no decision as the Rangers lost 5–4. After two straight starts against the Oakland Athletics, the Rangers got Matt Harrison back from the DL and moved Martinez to the bullpen. Martinez went 6.2 innings, struck out six and allowed only one earned run in four relief appearances. In a game against the Houston Astros, Harrison injured his lower back and had spinal fusion surgery. The Rangers then put Martinez back into the starting rotation.[7]

In 2015 he had an ERA of 3.96 and shared the major league lead in hit batsmen, with 13.[8]

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Upon reaching free agency and limited interest from MLB teams, Martinez signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) on January 6, 2018. According to reports, he will earn incentives based on innings pitched.[9] In his first NPB season, Martinez went 10-11 with 93 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.51. On December 18, 2018, Martinez re-signed with the team to a one-year, $2.2 million deal.[10]

On October 18, 2019, Martinez signed a 1-year extension to remain with the Fighters.[11]

On December 2, 2020, he become a free agent.[12]

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

On January 30, 2021, Martinez signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball.[13]

References
  1. Kepner, Tyler. "Realizing His Dream, as a Pitcher". The New York Times.
  2. "Nick Martinez College Statistics". TheBaseballCube.com.
  3. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. Smart, Bradley (April 26, 2015). "Ex-Mountaineer Martinez leads AL in ERA". SmartOnSports.com.
  5. "Rangers load up on arms on Day 2 of Draft". MLB.com.
  6. "Tanner Scheppers to start opening day for Rangers; Darvish on DL". Dallas Morning News.
  7. "Nick Martinez and Texas Rangers heavy underdogs against Tampa Bay". Dallas Morning News.
  8. 2016 MLB Baseball Pitching Statistics and League Leaders - Major League Baseball - ESPN
  9. Byrne, Connor (January 6, 2018). "Nick Martinez To Sign With Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  10. "Fighters re-sign hurler Nick Martinez". The Japan Times. December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  11. "マルティネス投手との契約合意について". 北海道日本ハムファイターズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 18, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  12. "2020年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  13. https://www.world-today-news.com/softbank-wins-martinez-after-leaving-nippon-ham-contributing-to-japans-no-1-for-5-consecutive-years-uniform-number-37-full-count/
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