This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
It had been a whirlwind 48 hours, going from Oklahoma Metropolis — the place he was taking part in with Triple-A Spherical Rock — to San Francisco, the place he joined the Rangers huge league membership to make his MLB debut. He drew a stroll in opposition to the Giants on Friday.
“Lots of feelings, quite a lot of issues happening by my head,” Martínez stated. “Yeah, I simply couldn’t sleep.”
He slept higher the subsequent night time, he stated.
Martínez started his MLB profession with a five-game on-base streak (three in SF, two vs. LA), together with three consecutive multihit video games after going hitless with a stroll in his debut. In 5 video games, he’s compiled a slash line of .389/.409/.444.
Initially referred to as up as a quick alternative with Travis Jankowski happening the paternity checklist for the start of his fourth youngster, Martínez has earned his approach into an prolonged stick with the large league membership after a shocking weekend in San Francisco.
“The child’s executed a pleasant job,” Rangers supervisor Bruce Bochy stated. “He is acquired quite a lot of power, offers you good at-bats up there and performs a very good protection. He is actually shining proper now.
“I let you know what, this child’s acquired a calmness and a confidence about him. Actually, he is a ballplayer.”
Signed in the course of the 2018 worldwide signing interval, Martínez was anticipated to maneuver rapidly by the system, however he by no means fairly lived as much as that potential within the higher ranges of the Minors. With Double-A Frisco in ‘21, he slashed .242/.355/.368 after which posted an almost similar line in ‘22 between Frisco and Spherical Rock, slashing .243/.360/.433.
Lastly, in 2023, he broke onto the scene with a scorching yr in Triple-A Spherical Rock, slashing .312/.427/.565 in 67 video games, forcing his approach onto the Rangers’ radar.
“We have actually been enthusiastic about what we now have seen from J.P.,” Bochy stated. “We have heard actually good issues down in Spherical Rock about how properly he was taking part in earlier than he acquired there. However it’s been spectacular, the calmness this child has had and the arrogance with the job he is executed. He can play all the outfield, I believe you’ll be able to put him wherever within the batting order. He is that sort of bat, and he’s a flexible man within the outfield, good baserunner. He is a pleasant addition and he is made us a greater membership.”
Martínez admitted that it’s been an extended journey for him. From extremely touted worldwide prospect to struggling within the Minors, he stated typically he forgot to like the sport and play with ardour. The stress that got here with dwelling as much as his billing took away from his pleasure of the sport.
He credited Rangers psychological abilities coaches Hannah Huesman and David Franco for serving to him rediscover the enjoyable in baseball, even when some video games received’t go his approach.
“I all the time knew that I might play rather well,” he stated. “However typically I did not have the video games I anticipated to have and that is baseball. … However I attempted to push myself tougher as a result of I wished to get right here within the huge leagues. The folks on his workers talked to me and simply sort of instructed me ‘Hey, you should overlook about these unhealthy video games and proceed to deal with the positives and do the issues that you simply’re doing commonly.’ Simply to have enjoyable with the sport, and I believe it is helped me loads.”
It’s proven along with his play on the sector, and has translated to his brief time with the large league membership. He’s drawn rave critiques from coaches for his skill to rise to the event and influence the sport in all sides.
Martínez offering high quality at-bats makes an already deep Rangers lineup even deeper. As a flexible outfielder with the power to play all three positions, he can begin at any time, or present velocity and athleticism off the bench as a late-game alternative.
“If he is not taking part in, he is a weapon off the bench,” Bochy stated. “He is a great bunter, he can steal a base. He can provide you a great at-bat up there when he begins. He simply appears so comfy. You simply love the arrogance in him. He is a man who’s going to essentially assist us, I believe. That’s how a lot I consider him within the brief look I’ve gotten to date.”