Francisco Martinez (minors08)

Francisco Javier Martinez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.

• Born September 1, 1990 in Rio Chico, Miranda, Venezuela

Minors BR page

Biographical Information

Third baseman Francisco Martinez has played in the minors.

He was signed by Detroit Tigers scouts Alejandro Rodriguez and Pedro Chavez in 2007 and made his pro debut in the Venezuelan Summer League the following year. He hit .321/.394/.349 for the VSL Mariners with 20 steals in 30 tries. He was third in the Venezuelan Summer League in steals (behind Henry Henry and Ray Van Gurp), fourth in average, fourth in hits (80) and first in errors at 3B (25, fielding .889). Coming to the US in 2009, he struggled, hitting .222/.256/.320 for the GCL Tigers and going 3 for 18 for the Lakeland Flying Tigers. He did field better and his 9 double plays led third basemen in the Gulf Coast League. During 2010, Martinez hit .271/.330/.353 for Lakeland and fielded .936 at the hot corner. Holding his own in high-A ball at age 19, he was rated by Baseball America as the #17 prospect in the Florida State League, between Diego Moreno and Jhan Marinez, and as the Tigers' #4 prospect.

Shortly after being selected to the 2011 Futures Game, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners as part of a six-player deal, sent with Casper Wells, Charlie Furbush and a player to be named (Chance Ruffin) for Doug Fister and David Pauley. In the Futures Game, he pinch-hit for DH Dayan Viciedo in the 7th inning. Facing Kyle Gibson, he popped up to Paul Goldschmidt. The World team lost, 6-4. He had a mixed season overall between the Erie Sea Wolves (.282/.319/.405 in 91 G) and Jackson Generals (.310/.326/.481 in 33 G), with 83 runs, 7 triples and 10 home runs but only 23 walks to 104 strikeouts, 10 steals in 20 tries and 35 errors. He led Eastern League third basemen with 27 errors despite his limited time there. Baseball America listed him as the EL's 16th-best prospect, between catchers Ryan Lavarnway and Austin Romine.

Making his winter ball debut, Francisco batted .274/.315/.321 for the Navegantes del Magallanes in 2011-2012. He missed over a month of 2012 with a hamstring strain but played poorly even when healthy, hitting only .227/.315/.295 with two home runs and 23 RBI in 95 games for Jackson (he also had a 8-game rehab stint with the AZL Mariners). The lone positive was his steal rate as he was 28-for-35, good for third in the Seattle minor league chain in swipes. His struggles continued in the winter as he was 6 for 30 with 3 walks, a double and a triple for Magallanes.

He began 2013 back with the Generals (this time as a center fielder) but hit poorly, at .206/.242/.254 and the former prospect was re-acquired by the Tigers in early June for a player to be named later or cash.

He has coached for the DSL Tigers 1 from 2018-2019 and 2023-2024.

Sources

• 2011 Tigers Media Guide
• 2013 Mariners Media Guide
• Purapelota
• 2011 Futures Game