Courtesy of Barry Chin/Globe Staff
When people think of J.D. Martinez, they tend to associate him with the Boston Red Sox because that is the team he spent five years of his career with. In four years, Martinez was an All-Star each season, 2018 World Series champion, two-time (2018) Silver Slugger winner, 2018 Hank Aaron winner, and 2018 AL RBI leader. Also, when Martinez won the Silver Slugger award in 2018, he became the first person ever to win the award twice for the outfielder position and designated hitter position in the same season.
Courtesy of MLB.com video
At the end of the year of 2022, Martinez signed a one-year, ten million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since joining the Dodgers, Martinez has the stats of .266/.303/.570/.872 with 22 home runs and 62 RBIs. Before joining the Dodgers and becoming a free agent in 2022, when Martinez was deciding who he would like to play off, he wanted to play for a team that will make it to the postseason in October, “I wanted a team that was going to be in October, be in the swing of things all year and give me a chance to win,” said Martinez on the “Bradfo Sho” podcast of Rob Bradford.
Courtesy of Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Other than Martinez having a great batting year for his designated hitter position he also returns to a familiar face/friendship, Mookie Betts. Betts and Martinez were teammates for a while with the Red Soxs and have a great friendship with one another. Before they became really good friends during their playing time in Boston, Betts really did not speak to anyone when he joined the team and others wanted Martinez to reach out and help Betts become more comfortable with his new team. In an interview from the LA Times, Martinez explains that their friendship began from Martinez questioning Betts on his swing from the batting cage, he also states that their personalities are “similar senses of humor.” Martinez and Betts will always support one another and tell one another what they can change about their batting swing or anything, “‘Oh, he’s locked in right now.’ Or, ‘He can’t hit anything right now.’ I’ve seen him enough. We’ve spent so much time together,” said Martinez.
Courtesy of SI.com video