This Monday, the Minor League Players of the Week were selected, and Ernesto Martínez Jr. was chosen as the best hitter in the International League, one of the two Triple-A circuits. The native of Holguín, Cuba who made his debut this year with the Nashville Sounds, played five games from April 8-13 against the Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate.
In all five games, Martínez hit .529 (17 AB; 9 H) with two home runs, eight RBIs, four runs scored and a 1.501 OPS. According to the official Minor League Baseball website. In honor of Martinez Jr.’s achievement, the Nashville Sounds Foundation will make a $200 donation to a charity of the slugger’s choice.
Martínez led the International League in last week in batting average, tied for the lead in RBIs (8), and led the OBP (.619), SLG (.882), and OPS (1.501). He accumulated 15 total bases, third in the week. This is Martínez Jr.’s third career Player of the Week award; the previous two came with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, in consecutive weeks in September. This is the 64th time a Nashville player has won Player of the Week in history and the second time in the 2025 season.
Last season he played a total of 110 games at Double-A (Biloxi), in which he posted a slash line of .284/.365/.466/.831, with 114 hits in 401 at-bats, 30 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 40 walks, 20 stolen bases and 62 RBIs. At this pace the Cuban might make his debut sometime this season with the Milwaukee Brewers.