Michael Martínez (baseball)
Michael Martínez | |
---|---|
Cleveland Indians | |
Infielder / Outfielder | |
Born: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | September 16, 1982|
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 3, 2011, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
MLB statistics (through 2015 season) | |
Batting average | .187 |
Home runs | 5 |
Runs batted in | 38 |
Teams | |
Michael Gabriel Martínez Tiburcio (born September 16, 1982) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder and center fielder in the Cleveland Indians organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cleveland Indians.
Baseball career
Washington Nationals
Martínez began in the Washington Nationals organization, commencing his professional career in 2006. That year, he played for the Vermont Lake Monsters, Savannah Sand Gnats and Potomac Nationals, hitting a combined .265 with 11 stolen bases in 82 games. In 2007, he played for the Hagerstown Suns and hit .250 with 13 stolen bases in 116 games. He played for the Potomac Nationals and Harrisburg Senators in 2009, posting a .259 batting average with 10 steals. In 2010, he played for the Senators and Syracuse Chiefs, hitting a combined .272 with 11 home runs and 23 stolen bases.
Philadelphia Phillies
He was selected by the Phillies from the Nationals in 2011 as a Rule 5 Draft pick. He made the Phillies' Opening Day roster as a reserve player. He made his major league debut on April 3 against the Houston Astros and recorded his first major league hit and RBI. He hit his first major league career home run on July 17 against the New York Mets. He spent the season acting as a utility infielder and outfielder, recording a .196 batting average with 3 home runs and 24 RBI in 89 games. Due to his remaining on the club's roster for the entire regular season, he remained in the organization thereafter per Rule 5 regulations.
Martínez opened the 2012 year on the Disabled List due to a broken foot suffered during Spring Training.[1] He joined the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Phillies' AAA affiliate, in early June. After playing only one game with Lehigh Valley, Martínez returned to the Phillies' 25-man roster following an injury to second baseman Freddy Galvis. On June 27, Martinez was optioned to AAA to make room for Chase Utley. Martinez was called up again when Mike Fontenot was designated for assignment.
Martinez began 2013 in Triple-A, but his contract was purchased on May 24 because Chase Utley was placed on the 15-day DL. He was designated for assignment on June 22, and outrighted off the roster on October 3. He elected free agency on October 8. In 29 games for the Phillies in 2013, he hit .175 with 3 RBI. News broke that the Phillies re-signed him on October 18, but a Phillies official declared the signing was false and it is not listed on the Phillies' official list of transactions.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On December 18, 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Martinez to a minor league deal. His contract was selected from the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on June 12, and he was optioned back to the AAA Indianapolis Indians on August 19.[2] He was designated for assignment on September 2, 2014, when the contract of Chase d'Arnaud was selected and was added to the 40-man roster. Martinez elected free agency in October 2014.[3]
Cleveland Indians
Martínez signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians on February 11, 2015. On April 9, 2015 he was assigned to AAA Columbus Clippers. The Indians purchased his contract from Columbus on September 4, 2015 and added him to the major-league roster.[4]
Personal life
Martinez went to San Lorenzo High School and did not attend college. He was never drafted and originally wore number 19 when debuting with the Phillies in 2011.
References
- ^ "Michael Martinez suffers broken foot". Phillyburbs.com. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
- ^ Twitter / Pirates: #Pirates Roster Move: @TheCUTCH22 has been reinstated from the 15-Day DL and Michael Martinez has been optioned to Indy.
- ^ Polishuk, Mark (October 6, 2014). "Players Who Have Elected Minor League Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ "Indians add Martinez & Soto from AAA Columbus". Retrieved September 4, 2015.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- 1982 births
- Living people
- Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- Philadelphia Phillies players
- Pittsburgh Pirates players
- Cleveland Indians players
- Savannah Sand Gnats players
- Vermont Lake Monsters players
- Potomac Nationals players
- Hagerstown Suns players
- Estrellas Orientales players
- Harrisburg Senators players
- Syracuse Chiefs players
- Yaquis de Obregón players
- Clearwater Threshers players
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- Columbus Clippers players