|
|
MLB-VE-Victor_Martinez_2.jpg
Victor Martinez
Martínez was born in Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar State, Venezuela. He was signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent in 1996. After a pair of minor league MVP awards and batting titles in 2001-02, he made his debut with Cleveland at the end of 2002.
In 2003, Martínez was busiest between Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and the Indians. He finished with a combined .315 batting average, hitting at a .349 clip in August and September with the big club. Exhibiting knowledge of the strike zone and an ability to make contact, he reduced his strikeout totals and produced a combined .376 on base percentage. He also drove in 63 runs, hitting .323 with runners in scoring position, and was selected to participate in the All-Star Futures Game played at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field. From 2001-03, the Venezuelan slugger batted a combined .330 with 40 home runs and 194 runs batted in.
Showing defensive improvement, Martínez displayed an ability to call games at the major league level and began 2004 as the Indians' No. 1 catcher. In his first full-season he did a fine job defensively, and hitting a .283 batting average with 23 homers and 108 RBI. He also earned his first All-Star selection, and shared the Silver Slugger honor as the top-hitting American League catcher with Ivan Rodriguez. For the first time since the awards began in 1980, there was a tie at one position. It was the seventh recognition for Rodriguez, the first for Martínez.
Considered one of baseball's top all-around catching prospects, Martínez is a career .283 hitter with 25 home runs and 129 RBI in 202 games.
Fact
- On July 16, 2004 Martínez hit 3 home runs, singled twice, drew a walk, and drove in a career-high seven runs in a perfect 5-for-5 game, recorded his first career multi-homer game, as the Indians belted eight homers-21 hits in an 18-6 rout of the Seattle Mariners
See also
External links
- Víctor Martínez at:
- Baseball Reference (analysis and stats) (http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/martivi01.shtml)
- ESPN (profile and daily update) (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6853)
- Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers (http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/list.htm)