This story was excerpted from Tim Stebbins' Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CLEVELAND -- Angel Martínez made a diving catch in center field on Saturday to snare a Ceddanne Rafaela line drive in the third inning of the Guardians’ 7-3 loss to the Red Sox in the second game of a doubleheader. As Martínez rested on his chest in the Progressive Field outfield grass, a smile flashed across his face.
Moments such as Saturday’s stand out for a few reasons. Not only is Martínez playing well, but he always seems to be rocking a smile, whether he’s on the field or making his way around Cleveland’s clubhouse. It’s all reflective of the 23-year-old’s comfort level in his second stint in the Major Leagues, and the mindset he carries at the ballpark every day.
“This game is really hard,” Martínez said. “It can drive you [crazy]. So you’ve gotta be able to enjoy it and have fun, because when you're a kid, that's all that you want to do: go out to the field and have fun. So why would I have to change now?”
The Guardians certainly won’t ask him to change. Martínez radiates positive energy, and he’s been an energizing presence for Cleveland while showing growth in his second big league season. In 16 games, he has a .333/.339/.426 slash line and has played good defense in center field.
Last season, in 43 games, Martínez slashed .232/.298/.338.
“[He’s] a gamer,” assistant hitting coach Jason Esposito said. “The highest compliment you can give somebody is just a good baseball player. He’s really competitive and goes out and competes and works hard.
“... Another great compliment you can give someone is they’re the same person [always]. That smile you see on the field is the same smile you see in the locker room, walking around the clubhouse. As he enters the cage, that's the smile you see.”
Martínez was in the mix for a spot on the Guardians’ Opening Day roster, before he was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on March 21 in a late round of roster cuts. Cleveland recalled him on April 9, after Lane Thomas suffered a right wrist contusion on a hit by pitch.
Martínez noted he didn’t have his best rhythm offensively during Spring Training, specifically against fastballs. His option afforded him an opportunity to work on his timing, and he credited Columbus hitting coach Junior Betances for helping him get on track. His progress has been evident in the early going this season.
Martínez hit .224 against fastballs in 2024, with an 86.5 mph average exit velocity. Entering Tuesday, he was hitting .321 against them, with an 87.7 mph average exit velocity.
“The biggest adjustment I see with Angel is he’s on the fastball,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We know he can handle strikes offspeed, but he's hit some fastballs hard. … He’s one of our better hitters at adjusting to offspeed, but now he's actually hitting fastballs hard, too.”
What Martínez has done defensively has been just as impressive. Last season marked the first time he played outfield professionally (298 innings in the Majors), after he came up through the Guardians’ farm system as a middle infielder.
While he’s spent his most time in center this season (112 2/3 innings), he stays ready to move around as he’s needed. And his mentality in staying ready to do so speaks to his maturity level for such a young player.
“You’ve gotta have your mind opened up to be able to do those things,” Martínez said. “For me, this game is a lot of mental. If you let your mind be free, you're gonna be able to play anywhere and do whatever you want.
“For me to be able to help the team, playing many positions, I love to do that.”
Right now, that help has come in center, and it’s evident Martínez is having a great time.
“He’s having fun,” Vogt said. “Angel’s at his best when he's having fun. And even when he's not, he's smiling.”