Jorge Martínez (39) signed with the Estrellas Orientales and has made two starts for the ballclub posting a 3.38 earned run average over that span. It will be Martínez’s 4th team played with in the Dominican League, Licey, Toros, Gigantes are the others.
Last season (2022-23) he was 2-3, 2.68 ERA with the Gigantes del Cibao in nine starts and 43 ⅔ IP he fanned 38 hitters. Martínez has been a a very consistent pitcher in the most competitive winter league. During five season regular seasons in the LIDOM he sports a 2.88 ERA.
The hurler has plenty of experience in the Caribbean leagues and was even pitcher of the year in the Venezuelan Winter League in 2017 with the Cardenales de Lara posting a 7-2 record, 2.43 earned run average and fanned 40 in 59 ⅓ innings pitched that campaign.
Martínez has also seen action in two Caribbean World Series even sporting a 1.42 ERA in the 2015 edition with Puerto Rico (Santurce). In total the right-hander has a 37-22 mark in 11 winter league seasons. Martínez pitched this summer with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.
El recién firmado Jorge Martínez lanzar hoy por @EOBASEBALLCLUB ante las @aguilascibaenas .#pelotacubana #LIDOM pic.twitter.com/Xi4SWqPEka
— Yusseff305 🇨🇺🇺🇲 (@yusseff305) October 31, 2023
You are playing for your fourth team in the Dominican Winter League, you have already played with Tigres, Toros, Gigantes, now you are suiting up with the Estrellas. Tell us about your new team in the LIDOM.
Very happy, as you say it is the fourth team in the league during my career. But because it is the latest one, it is special due to the fact that I am being given me the opportunity to return to LIDOM. I feel very happy and am wholeheartedly committed to this franchise.
Your ERA is a tad high to start this tournament, after having had an earned run average of just 2.23 last season. What do you attribute your slow start to?
I’m seeing that and compared to previous years I’m seeing many more runs being scored. It could also be attributed to the new pitch clock, it could be that the pitchers are a little more hurried. There are several factors, I am also seeing a lot of errors in the field by defenses all over the league.
To piggyback of that, in the Minor Leagues and the Major Leagues the clock is now being used, it is being used for the first time in the Winter Leagues. How do you adapt to the pitch clock?
You have to adapt, it’s modern baseball. In my case it helps me because I am a man who works rather quickly on the mound and I don’t plan to have problems. Every time I get to the mound I try to keep up the fast pace and the clock helps me to keep that pace while on the hill, so in my case it helps me. I already worked with a clock this year in the Independent League and it went well for me.
You debuted against the Águilas Cibaeñas, how did you prepare mentally for this start?
“The same way I always prepare. As I said earlier I have been given a golden opportunity and I came ready to take advantage of it. Pitching I something I do very well and my mentality was to come here and give my all. That is one of the stadiums where I have pitched the most and one of the teams I have pitched against the most. At the time it was a team that was very hot, so I tried to attack the strike zone early, which is what was needed with hitters who are like those. I needed go out and do my job and try to give the team a couple of good innings.
You faced two other Cubans during that start, César Prieto and Yadiel Hernández, tell us about your matchups them?
I don’t know César very much; but in Yadiel’s case he is a great friend of mine, one of my best friends. It was the first time I faced him in an official game situation, because we played together for many years in Cuba on the same team. But nothing, when he was at home plate for me he was just another hitter and I went out gave it my all and I’m sure he did too. Then afterwards we called each other and talk about each at-bat.