Rafael_Martin

Rafael Martin

Rafael Martin

American baseball player

Not to be confused with the basketball player Rafael Martín.

Rafael Martín Romero (born May 16, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Martin and the second or maternal family name is Romero.
Quick Facts MLB debut, Last MLB appearance ...

Early life

Martin was born in California but spent parts of his childhood in Mexico until the 7th grade.[1] Martin attended Jurupa Valley High School in Jurupa Valley, California.[2] He played for the school's varsity baseball team for one year.[3] Though coaches at University of Redlands and Riverside Community College offered Martin the opportunity to walk on to their college baseball teams, they did not offer scholarships, and Martin opted not to attend college. He went to work for a contractor in Fontana, California,[2] becoming a crew foreman and dispatcher.[3]

Career

Saraperos de Saltillo

Martin attended a tryout with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League in 2007. He signed with them and made his professional baseball debut that year.[4] On the season, Martin pitched to a 2.65 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 34.0 innings. In 2008, Martin recorded a 4.19 ERA and 6–2 record in 35 games for the Saraperos, notching 38 strikeouts as well. In 2009, Martin appeared in 54 games for Saltillo, accumulating a 6–3 record and 4.12 ERA in 63.1 innings pitched.[5]

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals signed Martin out of the Mexican League in 2010.[6][2][7] In 2011, Martin pitched for the Potomac Nationals of the High–A Carolina League and the Harrisburg Senators of the Double–A Eastern League. The Nationals assigned him to the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.[8][9] He struggled with elbow and shoulder injuries in 2012.[3] Martin split the 2013 season between Potomac and the GCL Nationals, pitching to an excellent 0.87 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 21 games. In 2014, he pitched for the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple–A International League.[3] He had a 0.80 ERA for Syracuse, allowing a run in only two of his 38 appearances.[10]

The Nationals invited Martin to spring training in 2015.[10] They assigned him to Syracuse to start the year, but selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues on April 14.[11] The following day, Martin made his major league debut,[12] facing the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He started the seventh inning; after allowing a fly out and a single, he proceeded to strike out the next five consecutive batters over two innings.[13] In 13 games for the Nationals in 2015, Martin recorded a 5.11 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 12.1 innings of work. Martin spent much of the 2016 season in Triple-A Syracuse, and was named an International League All-Star. In 8 major league games, Martin recorded a 2.45 ERA with 5 strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Martin was assigned to Syracuse to begin the 2017 season, and recorded a 5.18 ERA and 7.77 K/9 for the team in 24.1 innings before he was designated for assignment on June 5, 2017.[14] On June 9, Martin was outrighted and remained in Syracuse to finish the year. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[15]

Saraperos de Saltillo (second stint)

On March 21, 2018, Martin signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican Baseball League. He allowed 14 runs in 49.1 innings of work in 2018. In 2019, Martin pitched to a 4.98 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 43 games for Saltillo. Martin did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the LMB season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

Personal life

In June 2021, Martin was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome.[17]

References

  1. [1]
    Castillo, Jorge (September 24, 2016). "For American-born players with Latin heritage, identity is complicated". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  2. [2]
    "From Mexico to the big leagues, Rafael Martin is the most improbable story of Washington Nationals spring training". The Washington Post. February 28, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  3. [3]
    Kramer, Lindsay (July 23, 2014). "Syracuse Chiefs reliever Rafael Martin makes his pitch as late-blooming prospect". Syracuse.com. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  4. [4]
    ""Este premio me motiva para Grandes Ligas": Rafa Martin - Saraperos de Saltillo News". MiLB.com (in Spanish). Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  5. [5]
    "Rafael Martin Mexican, Winter, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Nationals Sign Rafael Martin". MLB Trade Rumors. February 25, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  7. [7]
    "Nats sign Mexican League hurler Martin". Washington Nationals. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  8. [8]
    "Byron Kerr: Reliever Rafael Martin looking to show he belongs in first big league camp". MASNsports. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  9. [9]
    "Nationals' Martin dares to dream again". The Washington Times. November 15, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  10. [10]
    Wagner, James (March 24, 2015). "Rafael Martin is turning heads with his slider". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  11. [11]
    "Nationals select contract of right-hander Rafael Martin". Masnsports.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  12. [12]
    Zuckerman, Mark. "Martin savors "unbelievable" MLB debut with Nats". NatsInsider. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  13. [13]
    "April 15, 2015 Washington Nationals at Boston Red Sox Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  14. [14]
    "Nationals Designate Rafael Martin For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. June 5, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  15. [15]
    "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  16. [16]
    "Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season". MLB Trade Rumors. July 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  17. [17]
    Arancivia, Gerardo (June 17, 2021). "#FuerzaRafaMartín: Diagnostican al pelotero de Saraperos con síndrome de Guillain-Barré". Zócalo (in Spanish). Retrieved June 18, 2021.
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