J. D. Martinez
Encyclopedia
Julio Daniel "J. D." Martinez (born August 21, 1987 in Miami, Florida
) is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Houston Astros
.
in 2006 by the Minnesota Twins
in the 36th round, 1086th overall, but he ended up going to college.
Martinez went to Nova Southeastern University
, where from 2007-2009, he was a two-time All-SSC
baseball player. He was drafted after his junior year by the Houston Astros
in 2009 in the 20th round, 611th overall. He was signed by his head coach at NSU Greg Brown.
, where he batted .403 before earning a promotion to Short-Season Tri-City. He started the 2010 season with Single-A Lexington
, where he earned a mid-season promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi
. He started the 2011 season with Corpus Christi before earning a promotion to the big leagues.
On July 30, 2011, Martinez was called up to replace Hunter Pence
, who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) is a 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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
School career
Martinez was drafted out of Flanagan High SchoolCharles W. Flanagan High School
Named after former mayor Charles W. Flanagan, Charles W. Flanagan High School opened its doors in 1996 as the first public high school in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Flanagan High School is located near Broward County's C.B. Smith Park and the Walter C. Young Middle School and Resource...
in 2006 by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the 36th round, 1086th overall, but he ended up going to college.
Martinez went to Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University, commonly referred to as NSU or Nova, is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, research university located in Broward County, Florida, with its main campus in the town of Davie...
, where from 2007-2009, he was a two-time All-SSC
Sunshine State Conference
The Sunshine State Conference was originally formed in 1975 as an NCAA Division II men's basketball conference. It has since expanded to sponsor championships in 14 sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's and women's golf, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball,...
baseball player. He was drafted after his junior year by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in 2009 in the 20th round, 611th overall. He was signed by his head coach at NSU Greg Brown.
Professional career
He started with the Rookie level Greeneville AstrosGreeneville Astros
The Greeneville Astros are a minor league baseball team of the Appalachian League, and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Greeneville, Tennessee, and play their home games at Pioneer Park on the campus of Tusculum College....
, where he batted .403 before earning a promotion to Short-Season Tri-City. He started the 2010 season with Single-A Lexington
Lexington Legends
The Lexington Legends are a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League , and the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Lexington, Kentucky, and play their home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, located in an industrial area on the northeast side of the city just...
, where he earned a mid-season promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
. He started the 2011 season with Corpus Christi before earning a promotion to the big leagues.
On July 30, 2011, Martinez was called up to replace Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence
Hunter Andrew Pence is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies. Pence stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:...
, who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Awards
- New York-Penn League All-Star - 2009
- South Atlantic LeagueSouth Atlantic LeagueThe South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
MVP - 2010 - Texas LeagueTexas LeagueThe Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All-Star - 2011