Chris Martin (baseball)

Chris Martin

Martin with the New York Yankees
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters – No. --
Pitcher
Born: (1986-06-02) June 2, 1986
Arlington, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 26, 2014, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Win–loss record 0–2
Earned run average 6.19
Strikeouts 32
Teams

Christopher Riley Martin (born June 2, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB). Previously, he pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies in 2014 and the New York Yankees in 2015.

Martin played baseball at Arlington High School and McLennan Community College, but gave up on baseball after he suffered a shoulder injury. After working in a warehouse for three years, Martin began playing catch, and felt strong enough to try out for independent league baseball. After pitching for the Grand Prairie AirHogs in 2010, the Boston Red Sox of MLB signed Martin in 2011. He pitched in Minor League Baseball for the Red Sox organization until they traded him to the Rockies after the 2013 season. Martin pitched in MLB for the Rockies in 2014, and was traded to the Yankees after the season. He signed with the Fighters after the 2015 season.

Amateur career

Martin attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, where he pitched for the school's baseball team. In 2004, his senior year, the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association named Martin to their Class 5A All-State team.[1] The Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected him in the 18th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Martin did not sign with the Tigers, as he planned on attending attend college. He enrolled at McLennan Community College, where he played college baseball for the McLennan Highlanders. After his freshman year at McLennan, he received interest from the college baseball programs representing the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas at Austin.[2] However, he had not taken his studies seriously, and did not have enough course credits to transfer.[3]

The Colorado Rockies of MLB selected Martin in the 21st round of the 2005 MLB Draft. He returned to McLennan for his sophomore season, with the Rockies following his progress while deciding whether or not to offer him a contract. Martin suffered a shoulder injury while pitching for McLennan as a sophomore, and the Rockies opted not to offer him a contract.[4][5] Martin was diagnosed with a torn labrum in the shoulder of his pitching arm, and he underwent surgery to correct it.[6]

Professional career

Minor League Baseball

Martin was not selected in the 2006 MLB Draft. After graduating from McLennan, Martin signed with the Fort Worth Cats of the United League Baseball, which is independent from Major League Baseball, for the 2007 season. Though Martin made the team out of their tryout camp, he did not pitch in a game for the Cats due to discomfort in his shoulder. A doctor recommended Martin undergo surgery to repair the labrum and the articular capsule of the humerus.[5] Rather than undergo surgery, Martin quit professional baseball. He went to work loading trucks for UPS at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, moving refrigerators for Lowe's, and stocking washing machines and clothes dryers in an appliance warehouse in Arlington.[4][5][7][8]

Martin pitching for the Yankees on October 3, 2015

Martin and Jordan Bostick, a coworker in the warehouse and a former high school baseball teammate, began playing catch in the warehouse. Martin noticed that his shoulder felt stronger, and with encouragement from Bostick, he agreed to attempt to play professional baseball again.[9] In 2010, after three years out of baseball, Martin tried out with the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the independent American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, and signed to play for them.[7][10] He had a 4–0 win–loss record and a 1.96 earned run average (ERA) for the AirHogs.[4]

Pete Incaviglia, the AirHogs' manager, started contacting MLB teams to discuss Martin.[3] Before the 2011 season, the Boston Red Sox offered him a tryout during spring training. After practicing at their training facility, the Red Sox signed Martin to a minor league contract.[11] The Red Sox assigned Martin to the Greenville Drive of the Class A South Atlantic League to begin the 2011 season. Later in the year, the Red Sox promoted Martin to the Salem Red Sox of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League and then the Portland Sea Dogs of the Class AA Eastern League. Across the three levels, Martin had a 6–2 win–loss record and 2.55 ERA in 23 appearances. Martin pitched for Portland in 2012. He began the season as a starting pitcher,[12] but was moved back to a relief role later in the season. He ended the 2012 season with a 4.48 ERA. In 2013, Martin worked exclusively in relief. He had a 5–3 win–loss record with a 2.25 ERA and five saves in 42 games pitched, split between Portland and the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Class AAA International League during the 2013 season.[5]

After the 2013 season, the Red Sox traded Martin, along with pitcher Franklin Morales, to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for infielder Jonathan Herrera.[13][14] The Rockies insisted on Martin's inclusion in the trade.[7] Martin began the 2014 season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[15]

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies promoted Martin to the major leagues for the first time on April 25, 2014.[15] Martin made his major league debut on April 26, pitching a scoreless inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched a total of 15 2⁄3 innings for Colorado, recording a 6.89 ERA while striking out 14 and allowing 22 hits,[16] before the Rockies demoted Martin to Colorado Springs in June.[4] He pitched the rest of the season for Colorado Springs, where he had a 4.39 ERA.[17]

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.[18]

New York Yankees

The Rockies traded Martin to the New York Yankees on January 13, 2015, receiving cash considerations.[19] Martin competed for a spot in the Yankees' bullpen in spring training, and was named to the Yankees' Opening Day roster.[20] On April 28, 2015, Martin recorded his first career save in a 4–2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.[21] Martin began the season with a 0–1 record and a 3.55 ERA in 12 2⁄3 innings pitched across 15 appearances, before he went on the disabled list on May 9 due to tendinitis in his right elbow.[22][23] The Yankees activated Martin from the disabled list on May 31, and optioned him to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the International League.[24] The Yankees recalled Martin from the minor leagues on June 11 for the injured Andrew Miller,[25] and optioned him back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 19.[26] He finished the 2015 season with a 0–2 record and a 5.66 ERA in 24 games pitched for the Yankees.[27]

Nippon Ham Fighters

After the 2015 season, the Yankees sold the contractual rights to Martin to the Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball for $750,000.[27]

Pitching style

Martin is listed at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg).[28] He throws a fastball that averages 95 miles per hour (153 km/h).[5][29] He also throws a slider and a cut fastball.[28]

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. 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.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "High School Baseball All-Star Teams". Plainview Daily Herald. Associated Press. June 14, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ Fraley, Gerry (May 5, 2014). "Texas Rangers could face appliance store worker". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Chen, Albert (May 19, 2014). "Albert Chen: Chris Martin's remarkable journey from warehouses to MLB bullpens". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 DiPietro, Lou (January 14, 2015). "Chris Martin's long baseball road has gone from warehouse to Ruth's house". YES Network. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marshall, Ashley (January 7, 2015). "Former Colorado Rockies right-hander Chris Martin refused to give up on his childhood dream". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  6. ↑ Henry, John (May 7, 2014). "Arlington High grad returns as real-life Rockie story". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Renck, Troy E. (March 6, 2014). "How Chris Martin, a hard-working warehouse employee, became a Rockies bullpen candidate". Denver Post. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  8. ↑ Jennings, Chad (February 12, 2015). "Chris Martin: From the warehouse to the Yankees". LoHud Yankees Blog. The Journal News. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ Fraley, Gerry (May 6, 2014). "Rags-to-riches: Rockies pitcher just five years removed from warehouse job in Arlington". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ Paisley, Joe (April 10, 2014). "Warehouse worker turned Sky Sox reliever, Chris Martin, relishes second chance in pro baseball". The Gazette. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  11. ↑ Forde, Craig (May 21, 2013). "Chris Martin, from warehouse to clubhouse". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (April 27, 2012). "On Baseball: Warehouse, to showing his wares". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  13. ↑ Edes, Gordon (December 18, 2013). "Franklin Morales dealt to Rockies". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Rockies acquire LHP Franklin Morales and RHP Chris Martin" (Press release). MLB.com. December 18, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Harding, Thomas (April 25, 2014). "Reliever Martin reaches big leagues for first time". MLB.com. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  16. ↑ McCarron, Anthony (January 14, 2015). "Yankees intrigued by the potential of righty reliever Chris Martin: The newest Yankee reliever was acquired Tuesday from the Rockies for cash. His path to the big leagues has taken him through jobs at UPS, Lowe's and Texas Appliance, in and out of independent ball, and past a serious shoulder injury". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  17. ↑ Saunders, Patrick (January 13, 2015). "Rockies trade RHP Chris Martin to Yankees for cash". Denver Post. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Nick Hundley and Rockies finalize $6.25 million, 2-year deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  19. ↑ Hoch, Brian (January 13, 2015). "Yankees acquire righty Martin from Rockies". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ Mello, Igor (April 4, 2015). "Report: Chris Martin awarded a spot in Yankees' bullpen". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  21. ↑ Wise, Brandon. "Martin earns first career save.". http://fantasynews.cbssports.com. CBS Sports Fantasy News. Retrieved April 28, 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  22. ↑ Guardado, Maria (May 9, 2015). "Yankees place Chris Martin on 15-day disabled list". NJ.com. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Yankees place Martin on DL". Belleville News-Democrat. The Sports Network. May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Yankees activate Chris Martin, option him to Triple-A". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Yankees request reinforcements, call up Chris Martin, Mason Williams". NJ.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  26. ↑ Hatch, Ryan (June 19, 2015). "Yankees transactions: Chris Martin optioned, Bryan Mitchell and Branden Pinder called up". NJ.com. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  27. 1 2 "Yankees sell contract rights of RHP Chris Martin to Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan". The Brandon Sun. Associated Press. November 4, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  28. 1 2 Hatch, Ryan (April 9, 2015). "Yankees pitcher Chris Martin becoming Joe Girardi's first go-to reliever". NJ.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Chris Martin goes from appliance warehouse to Yankees' bullpen". Newsday. Associated Press. February 7, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.

External links

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