Chris Martin (baseball)

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15+23 innings for Colorado, recording a 6.89 ERA while striking out 14 and allowing 22 hits, [18] before the Rockies demoted Martin to Colorado Springs in June. [5] He pitched the rest of the season for Colorado Springs, where he had a 4.39 ERA. [19]

During the 2014–15 offseason, the Rockies agreed to sign Nick Hundley. The Rockies designated Martin for assignment on January 5, 2015, in order to remove him from their 40-man roster, so that the Rockies could sign Hundley. [20]

New York Yankees

The Rockies traded Martin to the New York Yankees on January 13, 2015, receiving cash considerations. [21] Martin competed for a spot in the Yankees' bullpen in spring training, and was named to the Yankees' Opening Day roster. [22]

Martin pitching for the Yankees on October 3, 2015 Chris Martin (21734218180).jpg
Martin pitching for the Yankees on October 3, 2015

On April 28, 2015, Martin recorded his first career save in a 4–2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. [23] Martin began the season with a 0–1 record and a 3.55 ERA in 12+23 innings pitched across 15 appearances, before he went on the disabled list on May 9 due to tendinitis in his right elbow. [24] [25] The Yankees activated Martin from the disabled list on May 31, and optioned him to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the International League. [26] The Yankees recalled Martin from the minor leagues on June 11 to fill in for the injured Andrew Miller, [27] and optioned him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 19. [28] He finished the 2015 season with a 0–2 record and a 5.66 ERA in 24 games pitched for the Yankees. [29]

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

After the 2015 season, the Yankees sold the contractual rights to Martin to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League for $750,000. [29] At the time, he had a career 6.19 ERA in 36+13 innings in MLB and a .318 batting average against. [30] [31]

Martin succeeded Hirotoshi Masui in the role of closing pitcher for the Fighters in 2016. He made the Pacific League All-Star team, [32] but injured his ankle in September. Martin missed the end of the regular season [33] and the 2016 Japan Series, [34] which the Fighters won. He finished the 2016 season with a 1.07 ERA and 21 saves. [35] He appeared in 52 games, which was a personal single-season best. [36]

The Fighters re-signed Martin for the 2017 season for ¥100 million (approximately US$891,535). [35] He had a 1.19 ERA in 40 appearances with the Fighters in 2017. [30] [36] Between his two seasons in Japan, Martin struck out 91 batters and walked 13 in 88+13 innings. [30] He credited his time with Hokkaido for helping him learn how to prepare himself between appearances with less input from coaches. [36] He also learned how to throw a split-finger fastball from teammate Shohei Ohtani. [31]

Texas Rangers

On December 15, 2017, Martin signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Texas Rangers. [37] He recorded a 4.54 ERA in 41+23 innings pitched in 2018. [38] After the 2018 season, Martin represented MLB in the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series from November 8–15. [39] When Rangers' closer Shawn Kelley went on the injured list in May 2019, Martin filled in for him. [40] Martin and José Leclerc received save opportunities when Kelley was injured in July. [41] For the Rangers in 2019, Martin had a 3.08 ERA in 38 appearances; from May 24 to July 30, he had a 1.45 ERA. [42]

Atlanta Braves

On July 30, the day before the 2019 trade deadline, the Rangers traded Martin to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Kolby Allard. [42] On September 11, Martin pitched an immaculate inning in the bottom of the seventh against the Philadelphia Phillies. [43] He had a 4.08 ERA with Atlanta in 20 games after the trade, finishing the season with a 3.40 ERA and four saves in 58 total appearances. [44] The Braves included Martin on their roster for the 2019 National League Division Series, but he injured an oblique muscle while warming up in Game 1 and was removed from the roster. [45]

A free agent after the 2019 season, Martin re-signed with Atlanta on a two-year contract worth $14 million on November 19. [46] [47] In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he pitched to a 1.00 ERA in 19 relief appearances spanning 18 innings. In 2021, Martin had a 3.95 ERA in 46 relief appearances. [2] During the 2021 postseason, Martin had a 2.08 ERA in five appearances as the Braves won the 2021 World Series. [48]

Chicago Cubs

On March 17, 2022, Martin signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $2.5 million, with additional achievable incentives. [48] Martin appeared in 34 games for the Cubs, recording a 4.31 ERA in 31+13 innings. He recorded a 3.29 ERA in his appearances after June 17. [49]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 30, 2022, the Cubs traded Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Zach McKinstry. [50] He pitched 24+23 innings over 26 games and finished 3–1 with a 1.46 ERA. [51]

Boston Red Sox (second stint)

On December 8, 2022, Martin signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. [52] He started the 2023 season as a member of Boston's bullpen, and spent two weeks during the second half of April on the injured list. [53] Martin served as an effective reliever for the Red Sox, posting a 4–1 record with a 1.05 ERA in 55 appearances before being placed on the injured list on September 28 due to a viral infection. [54]

Pitching style

Martin is listed at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg). [55] He throws a fastball that averages 95 miles per hour (153 km/h). [6] [56] He also throws a slider, a splitter, and a cut fastball. [55] He has exceptional control, walking just 1.1 batters per 9 innings over the course of his career. [57]

Personal life

Martin is the youngest of four children born to Connie and Matt Martin. His three older siblings, Crystal, Jonathan, and Shannon, all played baseball or softball when they were growing up. Crystal played softball at the collegiate level for the Texas A&M Aggies as their shortstop, and was named an All-Big 12 Conference selection during her collegiate career. [6]

See also

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Chris Martin
Chris Martin on June 18, 2015.jpg
Martin with the New York Yankees in 2015
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1986-06-02) June 2, 1986 (age 38)
Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 26, 2014, for the Colorado Rockies
NPB: March 26, 2016, for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters