Orelvis Martínez

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
Martínez in the Dominican Republic in 2016
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 13
Infielder
Born: (2001-11-19) 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 runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams

Career

Martínez 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] 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.[20]

References
  1. Cantlon, Kyle (July 2, 2018). "Report: Blue Jays to sign No. 4 international prospect Orelvis Martinez". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  2. Davidi, Shi (July 6, 2018). "Blue Jays bet big on young, gifted shortstop Orelvis Martinez". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  3. Rosenbaum, Mike (October 1, 2018). "Martinez, Conine among Jays prospects at instructs". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  4. "Orelvis Martinez Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  5. Lott, John (May 26, 2020). "Orelvis Martínez leads the Blue Jays' deep pool of Latino shortstop prospects". The Athletic. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  6. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  7. Matheson, Keegan (May 24, 2021). "Notes: Orelvis mashing in full-season debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  8. Ewen, Steve (August 3, 2021). "Top Blue Jays teen prospect Orelvis Martinez promoted to Vancouver Canadians". The Province. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  9. "Source: Blue Jays prospect Martinez to begin season in Double-A". The Sports Network. April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  10. Maun, Tyler (August 21, 2022). "Jays' Martinez sets homer record for Fisher Cats". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  11. 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.
  12. Bannon, Mitch (July 17, 2023). "Blue Jays Promote Top Hitting Prospect to Triple-A". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  13. "Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez hits homer in second triple-A at-bat". Sportsnet. July 18, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  14. Matheson, Keegan (March 4, 2024). "Here are the Blue Jays' 2024 Top 30 prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  15. "MLB 2024 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  16. "Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Sent to minor-league camp". CBS Sports. March 16, 2024.
  17. "Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez continues hot streak in triple-A". Sportsnet. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  18. 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.
  19. "Blue Jays Place Bo Bichette On Injured List, Recall Orelvis Martinez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  20. Passan, Jeff (June 23, 2024). "Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez gets 80-game ban for violating PED policy". ESPN. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
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