Jesus Martinez (minors08)

Note: This page links to 1992-2001 minor leaguer Jesus Martinez. For other players with similar names, click here.

Jesus Jaime (Martinez) Martinez

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 145-190 lb.

• Born March 13, 1974 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
• Died March 27, 2018 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic

BR minors page

Biographical Information

The younger brother of Ramon Martinez and Pedro Martinez, Jesus Martinez saw his share of hype early in his career. He began at age 17 with the Dominican Summer League's Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, going 3-2 with a 3.57 ERA. In 1992 he went 1-4, 3.29 for the GCL Dodgers then was 0-3, 13.25 for the Great Falls Dodgers.

He played his first full season with the 1993 Bakersfield Dodgers, getting lit up to a 4-13, 4.14 year and he led the California League in losses. At age 20, he went 7-9, 6.26 for the Vero Beach Dodgers and 0-1, 4.50 for the San Antonio Missions. In the 1994-1995 Australian Baseball League, he was 6-8 but with a 2.17 ERA, .214 opponent average and 88 strikeouts in 87 innings. He was first in the ABL in ERA (.59 ahead of runner-up Phil Dale) and fourth in strikeouts (between Korey Keling and Kevin Pincavitch). Dale and Everett Stull beat him out for the All-Star pitching honors. In 1995, Jesus improved to 6-9 with a 3.54 ERA for San Antonio and went 1-1, 4.50 in two games for the Albuquerque Dukes.

Martinez spent the entire 1996 year with the Missions and had his fifth straight sub-.500 season at 10-13, 4.40. He did strike out 124 batters, eight behind Texas League leader Matt Beaumont. At age 24, he did have a winning record and an excellent one, but it was deceptive. Martinez went 7-1, but his ERA for the Dukes was 6.21 and he had a WHIP of 1.95. Jesus reached the major leagues as a September callup for the Dodgers at one point but never got into a game.

He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 1997 expansion draft. The Diamondbacks then sent him to the Florida Marlins for Devon White. Before the 1998 season began, he was traded again, this time to the Cincinnati Reds for Eric Owens. Assigned to the Indianapolis Indians, Jesus had a 6.85 ERA and went 7-6.

Martinez continued to bounce from club to club. In 1999, he found himself on the same Sarasota Red Sox team as brother Ramon. Jesus went 1-2, 5.23. He then was in the Cleveland Indians system in 2000, with four scoreless innings with the Kinston Indians and 0-1, 3.68 in seven relief appearances for the Akron Aeros, though he allowed 27 walks and hits in 15 innings.

Going to the Binghamton Mets in 2001, Jesus went 2-0, 5.10 in 17 games, then went 0-2 in a couple appearances in the Mexican League before his career ended. Overall, Jesus Martinez was 50-69 in his professional career, a far cry from what his brothers had accomplished.

He died of cardiac arrest at the age of 44.

Sources: Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database, 1994-2002 Baseball Almanacs, Diario Libre

Martinez wore #47 during his brief stay on a major league roster.