| Orelvis Martínez | |
| Team: | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Number: | 13 |
| Position: | Infielder |
| Birth Date: | 19 November 2001 |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 21 |
| Debutyear: | 2024 |
| Debutteam: | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Statyear: | June 21, 2024 |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .333 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 0 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 0 |
| Teams: |
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Orelvis Miguel Martínez (born November 19, 2001) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
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] 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.[20]