Orelvis Miguel Martínez (born November 19, 2001) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
| Orelvis Martínez | |
|---|---|
.png) Martínez in the Dominican Republic in 2016 | |
| Toronto Blue Jays – No. 13 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: November 19, 2001 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 21, 2024, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Career statistics (through June 21, 2024) | |
| Batting average | .333 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 0 |
| Teams | |
| |
Career
editMartínez signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization as an international free agent on July 2, 2018.[1] His $3.5 million signing bonus is the second-highest signing bonus given to an international free agent in team history, just behind the $3.9 million bonus given to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2015.[2] Martínez joined the Blue Jays fall instructional camp along with Jordan Groshans and Cal Stevenson following the international signing.[3]
Martínez was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays for the 2019 season. He appeared in 40 games and recorded a .275 batting average, a team-leading seven home runs, and 32 runs batted in (RBI).[4][5] Martínez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Entering the 2021 season, Martínez was ranked sixth in the Blue Jays system.[7] Martínez was optioned to the Single–A Dunedin Blue Jays to begin the season, batting a .279 batting average, 19 home runs, and 68 runs batted in, before being assigned to the High-A Vancouver Canadians on August 3, 2021.[8] He finished the season with the Canadians batting a .214 batting average, 9 home runs and 19 runs batted in.[4]
Martínez began the 2022 season with the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.[9] On August 21, Martínez broke the franchise record for most home runs in a single season by a player, breaking the record of 27 set by Chip Cannon in 2006.[10] Martínez finished the season with New Hampshire, batting with a .203 batting average, 30 home runs, and 76 runs batted in.[4] On November 15, the Blue Jays added Martínez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[11]
Martínez began the 2023 season again in New Hampshire. On July 17, 2023, Martínez was promoted to the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons.[12] In his second Triple–A at-bat, he hit a home run to put the Bisons up 7–2.[13] In 125 games split between Buffalo and the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, he batted .243 with 28 home runs and 94 runs batted in.[4]
Entering the 2024 season, Martínez was ranked second on Major League Baseball's 2024 Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list,[14] and 87th overall on the 2024 Top 100 MLB prospects list.[15] He was optioned to Triple–A Buffalo to begin the 2024 season.[16] He began the season with a 15-game hit streak with the Bisons.[17][18] On June 18, Martínez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Bo Bichette.[19] In his debut on June 21 against the Cleveland Guardians, he went 1-for-3 with a single off of Carlos Carrasco.[20] On June 23, Martínez was suspended 80 games after testing positive for the performance–enhancing substance clomiphene, which he said in a statement that he had taken for fertility issues as he and his girlfriend are trying to have children.[21] He was activated from the restricted list on September 24, and subsequently optioned to Buffalo.[22] In 74 games with the Bisons, Martínez batted .267 with 17 home runs and 49 runs batted in.[4] Following the end of the Bisons season, the Blue Jays sent Martínez to Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League.[23]
References
edit- ^ Cantlon, Kyle (July 2, 2018). "Report: Blue Jays to sign No. 4 international prospect Orelvis Martinez". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ Davidi, Shi (July 6, 2018). "Blue Jays bet big on young, gifted shortstop Orelvis Martinez". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Mike (October 1, 2018). "Martinez, Conine among Jays prospects at instructs". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Orelvis Martinez Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ Lott, John (May 26, 2020). "Orelvis Martínez leads the Blue Jays' deep pool of Latino shortstop prospects". The Athletic. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ Matheson, Keegan (May 24, 2021). "Notes: Orelvis mashing in full-season debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Ewen, Steve (August 3, 2021). "Top Blue Jays teen prospect Orelvis Martinez promoted to Vancouver Canadians". The Province. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Source: Blue Jays prospect Martinez to begin season in Double-A". The Sports Network. April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Maun, Tyler (August 21, 2022). "Jays' Martinez sets homer record for Fisher Cats". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Bannon, Mitch (November 15, 2022). "Blue Jays Add 4 Prospects to 40-Man Roster Ahead of Rule 5 Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Bannon, Mitch (July 17, 2023). "Blue Jays Promote Top Hitting Prospect to Triple-A". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez hits homer in second triple-A at-bat". Sportsnet. July 18, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Matheson, Keegan (March 4, 2024). "Here are the Blue Jays' 2024 Top 30 prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "MLB 2024 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Sent to minor-league camp". CBS Sports. March 16, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez continues hot streak in triple-A". Sportsnet. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Chisholm, Gregor (April 23, 2024). "Blue Jays fans won't like it, but red-hot Orelvis Martinez shouldn't be called up now. Here's why". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Jays Place Bo Bichette On Injured List, Recall Orelvis Martinez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez goes 1-for-3 with a single in MLB debut". Sportsnet. June 21, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Passan, Jeff (June 23, 2024). "Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez gets 80-game ban for violating PED policy". ESPN. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Adams, Steve (September 24, 2024). "Blue Jays Reinstate, Option Orelvis Martinez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Gueren, Richard (October 21, 2024). "Orelvis Martinez's Dominican Winter League performance brings questions of 2025 role once again". Jays Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)