Jose Martinez stayed in game, pitched in 4 majors games
Pitching for the AA Wichita Wranglers in April 1994, Jose Martinez took a deflected comebacker off his cheek, The Wichita Eagle wrote.
The play complete, Martinez, on his way to a complete game shutout, quickly signaled he was OK, The Eagle wrote.
"I didn't want the trainer or anyone to check on me," Martinez told The Eagle. "There was no way I was coming out of the game."
As it turned out, Martinez was fortunate he wasn't hurt. Soon after, he got his call directly to the majors. He saw four outings with the Padres, the only major league outings of his career.
Martinez' career began in 1989, signed by the Mets as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.
Martinez started with the Mets in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 11 outings there in 1989 and returned for 13 starts in 1990. He went 8-3, with a 1.57 ERA in 1990.
He moved to single-A Columbia for 1991 and went 20-4 over 26 starts, with a 1.49 ERA. He made high-A St. Lucie and AA Binghamton in 1992 before being taken by the Marlins as the fourth pick in the expansion draft.
Martinez started 1993 at AAA Edmonton, then was traded to the Padres that June. He finished the year at AAA Las Vegas. He went 2-3, with a 9.93 ERA in 14 outings, five starts at Las Vegas.
For 1994, he started at AA Wichita. That May, as the major league squad saw three pitchers hurting, Martinez got his call to San Diego.
Martinez then had a tough debut. He gave up three runs on seven hits, including two home runs. Overall, Martinez saw four outings, one start. He went 0-2, giving up nine earned in 12 innings. He was then sent back to Wichita.
Martinez went 4-11 on the year at Wichita, including a winless streak that went back to his return to the majors and stretched until late August.
"I have struggled but I have never given up," Martinez told The Eagle after the streak-breaking win. "I just go out and try to have a good game. I'm not worried about wins or losses."
Martinez then played 1995 back at Las Vegas before moving to Taiwan for 1996 and 1997. He played in Taiwan for China Times. He went 11-3 his first year there and 5-9 his second. His 1997 campaign was his last as a pro.
- Wichita Eagle, April 20, 1994: Wranglers stop Angels
- Wichita Eagle, Aug. 24, 1994: Ailing Martinez ends losing drought
Made the Majors:1,468-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,142-68.2%