Carlos Martinez, Starting Pitcher

Date of Birth: 9/21/1991
Birthplace: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Nickname: Little Pedro

Carlos Martinez, starting pitcher, was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox on February 6, 2009. However, the contract was voided less than a month later due to confusion over Martinez's name. He had signed under the name Carlos Matias, taking the name of the uncle who had raised him. He was suspended for a year from professional baseball by MLB but eventually the discrepancy in names was cleared up.

Martinez signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in April, 2010. He played in the Cardinals' minor league system from 2010 through most of 2013. He joined the Cardinals for 21 games in 2013, pitching primarily out of the bullpen. In 2014, he was both a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher for the team, pitching 89.1 innings in 57 games. He finished the season with a 2-4 record, 1 save, 84 strikeouts to 36 walks, and a 4.03 ERA.

Martinez pitched in 31 games with the Cardinals in 2015. He finished his first season as a starting pitcher with a 14-7 record, 184 strikeouts to 63 walks, and a 3.01 ERA in 179.2 innings.

In 2016, Martinez had a 3.04 ERA in 31 games. He finished the season with 16 wins to 9 losses and 174 strikeouts to 70 walks in 195.1 innings.

Martinez finished the 2017 season with 12 wins and 11 losses, a career high 217 strikeouts to 71 walks, and a 3.64 ERA in 205.0 innings in 32 games.

Martinez was both a starter (15 games) and a relief pitcher (18 games) in 2018. He had 8 wins and 6 losses, 5 saves, 117 strikeouts to 60 walks, and a 3.11 ERA in 118.2 innings.

Martinez spent time on the DL in 2019 with a right shoulder cuff strain. As a relief pitcher in 48 games, he had 4 wins and 2 losses, 24 saves, 53 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a 3.17 ERA in 48.1 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 3.2 innings in 4 games and he gave up 6 hits, 2 home runs, and 6 runs. He struck out 5 batters and walked 4, and he had a 14.73 ERA.

Martinez pitched in just 5 games in 2020. He finished the season with no wins and 3 losses, 17 strikeouts to 10 walks, and a 9.90 ERA in 20.0 innings.

Martinez spent time on the IL in 2021 with an ankle injury and a thumb sprain. He finished the season with 4 wins and 9 losses, 57 strikeouts to 36 walks, and a 6.23 ERA in 82.1 innings in 16 games. He didn't pitch in the postseason. In the winter, he played in the Dominican Winter League.

Martinez became a free agent on November 4, 2021. He signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on March 19, 2022, and he was released on April 7th. A month later, on May 7th, he signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, who released him on May 17th.

Career pitching statistics for Martinez through 2021 include:

• 274 games played
• 967.0 innings pitched
• 62-52 win-loss record
• 927 strikeouts to 373 walks
• 3.74 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Carlos Martinez
ESPN - Carlos Martinez