Jonder Martínez

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Jonder Martínez Martínez

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 6' 0", Weight 192 lb.

Jonder Martínez is a pitcher who has been one of the top hurlers in Cuba in the mid-2000s; he has been on the national team at times since 2003. He led the league in ERA in 2007-2008.

Martínez was one of Cuba's best pitchers in the 1995 World Junior Championship, going 1-1 with a 0.98 ERA, striking out 24 in 18 innings while allowing only 10 hits. He was 10th in the event in ERA, trailing a couple future major leaguers, Canada's Aaron Myette and South Korea's Byung-hyun Kim.

In the 1999-2000 Serie Nacional, Martínez led the league by allowing 180 hits. The next year, the La Habana hurler was 6-10 with a 5.65 ERA, allowing 145 hits in 108 1/3 innings. In the 2001-2002 Serie Nacional, Martínez was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA and allowed a circuit-high 195 hits in 151 innings. The right-hander took a turn for the better with the 2002-2003 campaign, going 10-3 with a 4.40 ERA. He threw 30 1/3 innings in the 2003 Super Liga, leading the way.

Martínez made his debut with the senior national team in the 2003 Baseball World Cup, he allowed only one hit in 7 innings, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA. Jonder had a 6-7, 3.87 record in the 2003-2004 Serie Nacional, walking only 21 batters in 109 1/3 innings, good control even for him. He struck out 87.

In the 2004 Olympics, Martínez pitched 3 games, allowing three runs in one inning for a 27.00 ERA. He pitched a scoreless 1/3 of an inning against Australia for a save. Against Greece, he gave up a Nick Markakis triple to score a run. Against Canada, he walked Pete LaForest, plunked Danny Klassen, retired Todd Betts, then gave up a 2-run single to Ryan Radmanovich. He was clearly Cuba's worst hurler in the Olympics that year.

Martínez had a 6-6, 2 save, 3.48 record in the 2004-2005 Serie Nacional. He pitched well in game one of the finals that season but La Habana lost to the Santiago de Cuba Wasps. In 2005-2006, he went 10-3 with a 3.55 ERA, walking only 27 in 121 2/3 innings.

Martínez returned to the national team in 2006 and appeared in three events. He was ineffective in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 homers in 3 2/3 innings, with a 9.82 ERA, third-worst on the Cuban runner-ups. Against Puerto Rico, he relieved Yosvany Perez with a 8-1 deficit in the 5th inning and one man aboard. He gave up a run-scoring single to Yadier Molina and a 2-run homer to Carlos Beltran before retiring Eduardo Perez. He allowed no more runs in the 6th or 7th. Against the Dominican Republic, he entered in the 5th with a 5-0 deficit. He surrendered a David Ortiz home run that inning. In the 6th, he walked Ronny Paulino and allowed a Willy Taveras double before being yanked in favor of Luis Borroto; Taveras would later score (Paulino was retired at home). He faced one batter in the finale, retiring Toshiaki Imae. Martínez was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week as Cuba finished second. In the 2006 COPABE qualifier for the 2008 Olympics, Martínez threw two scoreless innings as Cuba locked up an Olympic spot.

In the 2006-2007, Jonder led the loop with 3 shutouts. He was 10-3 with a 1.40 ERA, walking 32 and allowing 94 hits in 122 1/3 innings pitched. He tied Yuniesky Maya for third in ERA behind Ciro Silvino Licea. He tied for third in the league in winning percentage, tied for 6th in wins, tied for 6th in strikeouts (79) and seventh in innings. Through 2006-2007, he was 78-83 with a 3.95 ERA in 11 seasons in Cuba.

Martínez allowed one run in four innings in the 2007 Pan American Games as Cuba won Gold. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, he was 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA. He appeared in five games, tying for the Cuban staff lead. He gave up their first run in their 1-run win over the Australian national team, giving up a double to Brad Harman and a single to Trent Oeltjen to drive him in. He took the loss against the Dutch national team, letting Raily Legito reach with a single. Martínez then threw a wild pitch and Sharnol Adriana singled home Legito. He allowed the last run in the Gold Medal game loss to Team USA, when Justin Ruggiano drove in Evan Longoria against Martínez.

The veteran right-hander begun the 2007-2008 season 10-0 with a 1.07 ERA in his best year yet. He split his next two decisions. On March 6, he threw a no-hitter against Ciego de Avila, the first no-hitter by a La Habana hurler ever in a Serie Nacional game. Martínez finished the season 13-2 with a 1.55 ERA. He led the league in ERA (.46 ahead of runner-up Yosvani Perez) and shutouts (4) and was among the leaders in complete games (5, tied for 2nd behind Pedro Luis Lazo), wins (tied for 2nd behind teammate Yulieski González), innings pitched (tied for 2nd in 133 1/3) and strikeouts (6th with 81). He was selected as the right-handed pitcher for the All-Star team.

Martínez was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in the 2008 Olympics for the Silver Medal winners. He got decisions in two relatively easy games, facing the Netherlands and China. He tied Suk-min Yoon, Norge Vera, Hideaki Wakui and Hyun-jin Ryu for the most wins in Beijing.

Jonder went 9-2 with a 4.55 ERA in 2008-2009. He tied Pedro Luis Lazo and Alberto Bicet for 2nd in winning percentage and was 10th in the league with 87 strikeouts.

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