From 18th-round draft pick to MLB All-Star and Olympic silver medalist
In short: Nick Martinez's journey through professional baseball is a testament to persistence. After being selected in the 18th round of the 2011 draft, he navigated the minor leagues and a stint in Japan before finding major league success with the Padres, Reds, and eventually the Tampa Bay Rays.
Before reaching the majors, he honed his skills at Fordham University and played collegiate summer baseball for the Falmouth Commodores and the Vermont Mountaineers. His early professional years were spent climbing the minor league ladder, including stints with the Arizona League Rangers and the Hickory Crawdads.
Martinez’s career has been defined by versatility and international experience. After being non-tendered by the Rangers in late 2017, he moved to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), signing with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2018. He spent several years in Japan, pitching for both the Fighters and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, where he recorded a 1.60 ERA in 21 appearances during the 2021 season. His success in Japan helped pave the way for his return to MLB with the San Diego Padres in 2022.
His recent years have seen significant milestones and high-stakes contracts. After signing a three-year, $26 million deal with the Padres in 2022, he moved to the Cincinnati Reds on a two-year, $26 million contract in 2023. In 2025, he came remarkably close to a no-hitter, falling just three outs short against the Padres. His career reached a new peak in 2026, when he signed a $13 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and was named to the American League All-Star Team.
Beyond the club level, Martinez represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo in 2021, where he helped the team secure a silver medal after a loss to the host nation, Japan.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Nick Martinez (baseball)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-nick-martinez-baseball.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
