Sandy Martínez
Encyclopedia
Angel Sandy Martínez Martínez (born October 8, 1970 in Villa Mella
, Dominican Republic
) is a retired Major League Baseball
catcher
. Previously, Martínez played for the Toronto Blue Jays
(-), Chicago Cubs
(-), Florida Marlins
, Montreal Expos
, Cleveland Indians
, and Boston Red Sox
(2004). He bats left-handed
and throws right-handed.
debut on June 24, 1995. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs on December 11, 1997, for minor leaguer Trevor Schaffer. On May 6, 1998, Martinez was catching when Kerry Wood
tied the major league record for strikeout
s in a 9 inning game. Martinez became a free agent after the 1999 season and signed with the Florida Marlins on December 6, 1999. A free agent at the end of the 2000 season, Martinez signed with the Montreal Expos on November 17, 2000. Martinez played one game for the Expos in 2001 and played for their Triple-A affiliate, the Ottawa Lynx
, in . For the season, Martinez signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but was released in spring training
.
On April 8, 2003, he signed with the Kansas City Royals
and played for their Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Royals
. After being released on June 8, 2003, Martinez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates
on January 20, 2004, but before playing a game for the Pirates, Martinez was traded to the Indians. He spent most of the season with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
, playing one game for the Indians major league team. On August 31, 2004, Martinez's contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox, where he played three games before being granted free agency at the end of the season. On January 15, 2005, he signed with the Detroit Tigers
, playing 81 games for their Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens
. On December 14, 2005, Martinez signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets
, playing 85 games for their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides
, and becoming a free agent at the end of the season.
On November 16, 2006, Martinez signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
, but did not play in any games for their organization before being released and signed by the Florida Marlins
. Martinez played three games for their Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes
, and became a free agent at the end of the season.
In an eight-season career, Martínez is a .230 hitter
with six home run
s and 51 RBI
in 218 games
.
' affiliate in the Dominican Summer League
during the 2010 season and was re-appointed manager of the DSL Nationals for 2011.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a retired Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. Previously, Martínez played for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(-), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(-), Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(2004). He bats left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and throws right-handed.
As player
Martinez was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in and made his Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut on June 24, 1995. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs on December 11, 1997, for minor leaguer Trevor Schaffer. On May 6, 1998, Martinez was catching when Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
tied the major league record for strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in a 9 inning game. Martinez became a free agent after the 1999 season and signed with the Florida Marlins on December 6, 1999. A free agent at the end of the 2000 season, Martinez signed with the Montreal Expos on November 17, 2000. Martinez played one game for the Expos in 2001 and played for their Triple-A affiliate, the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
, in . For the season, Martinez signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but was released in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
On April 8, 2003, he signed with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
and played for their Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
. After being released on June 8, 2003, Martinez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on January 20, 2004, but before playing a game for the Pirates, Martinez was traded to the Indians. He spent most of the season with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, playing one game for the Indians major league team. On August 31, 2004, Martinez's contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox, where he played three games before being granted free agency at the end of the season. On January 15, 2005, he signed with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, playing 81 games for their Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
. On December 14, 2005, Martinez signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, playing 85 games for their Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
, and becoming a free agent at the end of the season.
On November 16, 2006, Martinez signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, but did not play in any games for their organization before being released and signed by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. Martinez played three games for their Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
, and became a free agent at the end of the season.
In an eight-season career, Martínez is a .230 hitter
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with six home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 51 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 218 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
As manager
Martinez managed the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
' affiliate in the Dominican Summer League
Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2011 72-game season begins May 28 and ends August 20...
during the 2010 season and was re-appointed manager of the DSL Nationals for 2011.