Jose Martinez (minors28)

Jose Alexander Martinez

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 150 lb.

• Born August 15, 1996 in Machiques de Perijá, Zulia Venezuela

BR Minors page

Biographical information

Infielder Jose Martinez was signed by the Kansas City Royals before the 2013 season, when he was only 16. The scouts were Jose Gualdron and Richard Castro. He began his professional career that year with the DSL Royals, hitting .263 in 66 games as the team's mains shortstop. he moved to the United States in 2014, lining up with the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League. He played 56 games that season, hitting .229/.270/.294, while playing both shortstop and second base. In 2015, he was back with Burlington, where he played 57 games, hitting .243, then late in the year spent a year with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League, where his average was .273. Altogether, his batting line was .246/.308/.296 in 63 games, with 29 runs scored and as many RBIs. He played short almost exclusively and was still over two years younger than the average player in both circuits.

On December 2, 2015, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in return for major league back-up catcher Tony Cruz.