Orelvis Martínez
Dominican baseball player (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Orelvis Miguel Martínez (born November 19, 2001) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, appearing in one game in 2024 as a second baseman.
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| Orelvis Martínez | |
|---|---|
Martínez during spring training in 2025 | |
| Free agent | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: November 19, 2001 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 21, 2024, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .333 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 0 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Career
Toronto Blue Jays
Martínez signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization as an international free agent on July 2, 2018.[1] His $3.5 million signing bonus is the second-highest signing bonus given to an international free agent in team history, just behind the $3.9 million bonus given to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2015.[2] Martínez joined the Blue Jays' fall instructional camp along with Jordan Groshans and Cal Stevenson following the international signing.[3]
Martínez was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays for the 2019 season. He appeared in 40 games and recorded a .275 batting average, a team-leading seven home runs, and 32 runs batted in (RBI).[4][5] Martínez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Entering the 2021 season, Martínez was ranked sixth in the Blue Jays system.[7] Martínez was optioned to the Single–A Dunedin Blue Jays to begin the season, batting a .279 batting average, 19 home runs, and 68 runs batted in, before being assigned to the High-A Vancouver Canadians on August 3, 2021.[8] He finished the season with the Canadians batting a .214 batting average, 9 home runs and 19 runs batted in.[4]
Martínez began the 2022 season with the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.[9] On August 21, Martínez broke the franchise record for most home runs in a single season by a player, breaking the record of 27 set by Chip Cannon in 2006.[10] Martínez finished the season with New Hampshire, batting with a .203 batting average, 30 home runs, and 76 runs batted in.[4] On November 15, the Blue Jays added Martínez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[11]
Martínez began the 2023 season again in New Hampshire. On July 17, 2023, Martínez was promoted to the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons.[12] In his second Triple–A at-bat, he hit a home run to put the Bisons up 7–2.[13] In 125 games split between Buffalo and the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, he batted .243 with 28 home runs and 94 runs batted in.[4]
Entering the 2024 season, Martínez was ranked second on Major League Baseball's 2024 Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list,[14] and 87th overall on the 2024 Top 100 MLB prospects list.[15] He was optioned to Triple–A Buffalo to begin the 2024 season.[16] He began the season with a 15-game hit streak with the Bisons.[17][18] On June 18, Martínez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Bo Bichette.[19] In his debut on June 21 against the Cleveland Guardians, he went 1-for-3 with a single off of Carlos Carrasco.[20] On June 23, Martínez was suspended 80 games after testing positive for the performance–enhancing substance clomiphene, which he said in a statement that he had taken for fertility issues as he and his girlfriend are trying to have children.[21] He was activated from the restricted list on September 24, and subsequently optioned to Buffalo.[22] In 74 games with the Bisons, Martínez batted .267 with 17 home runs and 49 runs batted in.[4] Following the end of the Bisons season, the Blue Jays sent Martínez to Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League.[23]
Martínez was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to begin the 2025 season.[24] After hitting .176/.288/.348 with 13 home runs in 99 games for Buffalo, Martínez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on September 11.[25] The Blue Jays released Martínez on September 15.[26]
Washington Nationals
On September 26, 2025, Martínez signed with the Washington Nationals on a minor league contract that runs through the 2026 season.[27] However, Martínez was released by Washington prior to the start of the regular season on March 21, 2026.[28]