Orlando Martínez is off to a blazing start this season in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes. In 19 games the outfielder is slashing .368/.422/.658/1.080 with four homeruns and 20 runs batted in.
Although the team has gotten off to an 8-12 start on the season it has been playing well as of late and Martínez has been a key piece for the team’s offense over that span. The ex-Angels prospect has attracted the eyes of plenty of scouts, some belonging to MLB organizations and Asia.
Last winter the outfielder played winter ball in Puerto Rico with the Criollos de Caguas hitting a solid .295 with ,a homer, nine runs batted in and slash line of .384/.426/.810. After his showing the summer expect plenty of winter squads to come calling from the Dominican Republic and México.
This is your first season in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol. How have you adapted to the league in the short time you’ve been here?
Well, the truth is, it’s a slightly different league than what one played in the minor leagues. You know, I just came from the MiLB system and I’m coming to this league for the first time. There are many veteran pitchers who handle the zone very well. In the minor leagues, it’s mostly about speed and strong arms. Here, you have to know how to work your the entire field and stay focused on that to achieve results.
Speaking of the minor leagues, what’s the main difference you’ve noticed between them and this league?
Well, the main difference is that: the arms. In the minor leagues right now, there are many young prospects with strong arms throwing 95 mph and up, some 98 and 100 mph, and here you find more veteran pitchers who don’t throw as hard but are smarter. They’ve already found other ways to dominate and they have different pitches that you don’t see that often in the minor leagues.
You’ve had an excellent start with your offense, surpassing 1.000 OPS. How much has working with Yuniesky Gurriel influenced your preparation?
First I want to thank God because I’ve gotten off to the best possible start to help a team that didn’t start well. Yuniesky (Gurriel) has always been an important person in my offseason preparation over these four years. He’s very professional and has helped me 100%. He’s my friend; we always talk and he’s attentive to everything. Whenever things aren’t going well, he’s there watching video and giving me advice to help me get through a rough patch.
How have you adjusted to your new teammates in a new league?
Well, many are familiar faces; I already played with them in the minor leagues. Others are Cuban, from our homeland, and they guys I played with there. The truth is that I’ve adjusted very well. The team hasn’t started off in the best way, but we’re getting into the swing of things now and improving our results. I think the team will get better as the season goes along and bring joy to the people here in Aguascalientes.
Speaking of Cuban baseball players, what’s your relationship like with Richard Guasch and Oscar Marten?
It’s always been a very good one. They were teammates of mine in Cuba, we played in many categories together. We competed against each other in national tournament, and we were competing for Cuban teams together. Here, we’re moving forward as Cubans in Aguascalientes.