Mario Martínez (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Mario Omar Martínez (November 13, 1989) is a professional baseball
third baseman
in the Seattle Mariners
organization. He was born in Barquisimeto, Lara State, Venezuela
. Martínez was signed on July 3, 2006 by Mariners' scouts
Bob Engle and Emilio Carrasquel. He attended Aquiles Mazoa in Venezuela. Martínez throws and bats right-handed.
Although Martínez has never played in Major League Baseball
, he has played at multiple levels of minor league baseball
. He started his professional career in 2007 at the age of 17. Martínez was named the eight best prospect and the tenth in the Mariners' organization in 2009, and 2010, respectively by Baseball America
. Among other accolades, Martínez was named to Baseball America's rookie
all-star team, and the Northwest League
post-season all-star team.
. He batted .281 with 36 runs
, 55 hits
, 9 doubles
, 1 triple
, 1 home run
, 26 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, 2 caught stealing
, and 6 bases on balls
. On the team, Martínez was second in at-bats (196), runs, hits, RBIs, and total bases
(69); and was tied for third in doubles. On the defensive side, Martínez played the majority of his games at shortstop
, but also played third base, and first base. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
stated that Martínez had been seen as a "Carlos Beltran
-type talent." The Post-Intelligencer also compared Martínez's skill set to one of a "younger Grady Sizemore
."
of the Appalachian League
. He batted .319 with 80 hits, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases in 64 games. Martínez led Pulaski in at-bats (251), runs (43), hits, and triples; and was second in doubles. In the Appalachian League, Martínez was third in hits. Martínez was selected to the Appalachian League all-star team at the end of the season. Martínez was second in the Mariners' organization in batting average. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ranked Martínez as the 14 best prospect in the Mariners' organization at seasons end. Martínez was selected as the co-Most Valuable Player of the Pulaski Mariners in 2008 with catcher Juan Fuentes. Martínez was also named to Baseball America's rookie all-star team.
named Martínez as one of 10 Mariners' prospects to "keep an eye on." Martínez started the season with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings
, however, on June 23, he was sent to the Class-A Short-Season Everett AquaSox
. With the LumberKings, Martínez batted .214 with 20 runs, 49 hits, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, and 24 RBIs in 61 games. After his demotion to the AquaSox, Martínez batted .308 with 45 runs, 93 hits, 20 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases in 71 games. He led Everett in at-bats (302), runs, hits, doubles, and triples; and was second in RBIs. Martínez led all of the Northwest League in at-bats, and hits; was tied for second in triples; and was third in doubles.
but did not get a hit. Before the season, Martínez was again named by MLB.com as one of the 10 best prospects in the Mariners' organization. Martínez was also rated as the 10 best prospect in the Mariners' organization by Baseball America. He began the season with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings. During the season, Martínez batted .239 with 51 runs, 105 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 66 RBIs in 118 games played.
program, and another program conducted by an instructor. Martínez received a certificate in the programs presented to him at an awards ceremony at the end of the 2009 season.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organization. He was born in Barquisimeto, Lara State, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Martínez was signed on July 3, 2006 by Mariners' scouts
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
Bob Engle and Emilio Carrasquel. He attended Aquiles Mazoa in Venezuela. Martínez throws and bats right-handed.
Although Martínez has never played in 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...
, he has played at multiple levels of minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. He started his professional career in 2007 at the age of 17. Martínez was named the eight best prospect and the tenth in the Mariners' organization in 2009, and 2010, respectively by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. Among other accolades, Martínez was named to Baseball America's rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
all-star team, and the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
post-season all-star team.
2007 season
Martínez began his professional career with the AZL Mariners of the Arizona LeagueArizona League
The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
. He batted .281 with 36 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 55 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 9 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 1 triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 1 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...
, 26 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, 2 caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
, and 6 bases on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
. On the team, Martínez was second in at-bats (196), runs, hits, RBIs, and total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(69); and was tied for third in doubles. On the defensive side, Martínez played the majority of his games at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, but also played third base, and first base. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
stated that Martínez had been seen as a "Carlos Beltran
Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán is a Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:In his youth, Beltrán excelled in many sports, with volleyball and baseball being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen...
-type talent." The Post-Intelligencer also compared Martínez's skill set to one of a "younger Grady Sizemore
Grady Sizemore
Gradius "Grady" Sizemore III is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
."
2008 season
In 2008, Martínez spent the season with the rookie-level Pulaski MarinersPulaski Mariners
The Pulaski Mariners are a minor league baseball team based in Pulaski, Virginia, United States. They are an Advanced Rookie League team in the Appalachian League, and a farm team of the Seattle Mariners. The team plays its home games at Calfee Park. They have previously been affiliated with...
of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
. He batted .319 with 80 hits, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases in 64 games. Martínez led Pulaski in at-bats (251), runs (43), hits, and triples; and was second in doubles. In the Appalachian League, Martínez was third in hits. Martínez was selected to the Appalachian League all-star team at the end of the season. Martínez was second in the Mariners' organization in batting average. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ranked Martínez as the 14 best prospect in the Mariners' organization at seasons end. Martínez was selected as the co-Most Valuable Player of the Pulaski Mariners in 2008 with catcher Juan Fuentes. Martínez was also named to Baseball America's rookie all-star team.
2009 season
Before the 2009 season, Baseball America rated Martínez as the eight best prospect in the Mariners' organization. MLB.comMLB.com
MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball and is overseen by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P. . MLB.com is a source of baseball-related information, including baseball news, statistics, and sports columns...
named Martínez as one of 10 Mariners' prospects to "keep an eye on." Martínez started the season with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings
Clinton LumberKings
The Clinton LumberKings are a Midwest League Class A minor league baseball team based in Clinton, Iowa, USA, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners.-History:Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1954 and is the oldest franchise in the league...
, however, on June 23, he was sent to the Class-A Short-Season Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
. With the LumberKings, Martínez batted .214 with 20 runs, 49 hits, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, and 24 RBIs in 61 games. After his demotion to the AquaSox, Martínez batted .308 with 45 runs, 93 hits, 20 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home runs, 33 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases in 71 games. He led Everett in at-bats (302), runs, hits, doubles, and triples; and was second in RBIs. Martínez led all of the Northwest League in at-bats, and hits; was tied for second in triples; and was third in doubles.
2010 season
Martínez played three games with the Seattle Mariners during spring trainingSpring 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...
but did not get a hit. Before the season, Martínez was again named by MLB.com as one of the 10 best prospects in the Mariners' organization. Martínez was also rated as the 10 best prospect in the Mariners' organization by Baseball America. He began the season with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings. During the season, Martínez batted .239 with 51 runs, 105 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 66 RBIs in 118 games played.
Personal
After the 2009 season, it was noted that the Mariners sought to teach English to their Spanish speaking prospects by using a Rosetta StoneRosetta Stone (software)
Rosetta Stone is proprietary computer-assisted language learning software developed by Rosetta Stone Inc. Both its title and logo refer to the Rosetta Stone, an artifact inscribed in multiple languages that helped Jean-François Champollion to decipher Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs...
program, and another program conducted by an instructor. Martínez received a certificate in the programs presented to him at an awards ceremony at the end of the 2009 season.