Nick Martinez (baseball)

Nick Martinez
Martinez with the Texas Rangers
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters – No. 27
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 record 17–30
Earned run average 4.77
Strikeouts 237
WHIP 1.45
NPB statistics
(through September 24, 2018)
Win–loss record 10-10
Earned run average 3.49
Strikeouts 87
Teams

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

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] Martinez also played in a collegiate summer baseball league, the New England Collegiate Baseball League, for the Vermont Mountaineers. He is the seventh Mountaineer to make it to the MLB.[3]

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.[4]

Martinez was named the Rangers' fifth starter on March 26, 2014.[5] 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.[6]

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 on January 6, 2018. According to reports, he will earn incentives based on innings pitched.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Kepner, Tyler. "Realizing His Dream, as a Pitcher". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ "Nick Martinez College Statistics".
  3. ↑ Smart, Bradley. "Ex-Mountaineer Martinez leads AL in ERA". smartonsports.com.
  4. ↑ Rangers load up on arms on Day 2 of Draft
  5. ↑ Tanner Scheppers to start opening day for Rangers; Darvish on DL
  6. ↑ Nick Martinez and Texas Rangers heavy underdogs against Tampa Bay
  7. ↑ Byrne, Connor (January 6, 2018). "Nick Martinez To Sign With Japan's Nippon Ham Fighters". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
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