Martin Červenka

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Martin Červenka

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 6' 4", Weight 175-225 lb.

Minors BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Catcher Martin Červenka made his US minor league debut in 2011. His brother Marek Červenka has played for the Czech national team as has Martin. His father Filip Červenka has been a manager in the Czech Republic.

He played for Kotlarka Prague in the Czech minor leagues in 2008 and also appeared in six games for the Tegola Titans (3 for 14, BB; 5 passed balls in 30 innings, 2 runners thrown out in 11 tries) in the Extraliga. He also spent part of the summer in the MLB European Academy. On January 24, 2009, he signed a 7-year deal with the Cleveland Indians, reportedly becoming the first European league player to sign with the Indians. The scout was Peter Gahan. The plan was for him to play the 2009 season in the Czech Republic and possibly a couple summers in Australia.

In the 2009 European Junior Championship, Martin was just 2 for 15, one of the lighest Czech hitters. He was 1 for 5 for the Tempo Titans in 2009. He hit .286/.300/.388 for Kotlarka Prague in the 2010 Extraliga, as the team had won promotion. Opponents stole 7 bases in 7 tries. He batted .233/.258/.433 with 9 RBI in 7 games in the 2010 World Junior Championship, homering against Canada. He tied for 5th in the event in RBI. In the 2010 Intercontinental Cup, he played for the senior Czech Republic national team, starting at catcher ahead of the older Jakub Voják. The youngster struggled, going 2 for 15 with a double and an error.

He was excellent in the Extraliga in early 2011, hitting .420/.437/.710 with 11 doubles, 9 steals (caught once) and 14 RBI in 16 games before coming to the US. He threw out 3 of 8 attempted base-stealers and fielded .984. He finished second in the league in average (after Petr Síla) and slugging (behind Jiří Marek) while tying Tomáš Biskorovajny for 4th in doubles. Červenka made his U.S. pro debut in 2011, hitting .164/.233/.218 in 17 games for the AZL Indians. He fielded .985 and threw out 29% of attempted base thieves. In 2012, he hit .240/.352/.280 with no home runs and 12 RBI in 26 games for the AZL Indians (22% CS) and went 1 for 5 in the 2012 European Championship, catching his brother in his lone start (Petr Čech started for the Czechs). His hit came off Greg Hendrix.

In the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he did not play as the backup to Čech and Basilio Hernandez. In 2013, he hit .185/.271/.221 with one home run and 13 RBI in 60 games split between the Lake County Captains and Mahoning Valley Scrappers. He threw out 30% of attempted base-stealers and had 14 passed balls in 52 games. In 2014, he hit .l81/.250/.217 for Mahoning Valley. He was 3 for 20 with a run in the 2014 European Championship, splitting catching with Čech. He batted .184/.233/.247 in 49 games for the 2015 Captains.

Červenka was the starting catcher for the Czech Republic in the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in March 2016 and hit .231/.286/.462. He was retired by Oliver Perez to end a 2-1 loss to host Mexico then drove in six in a romp of the German national team, on a two-run single against Sven Schüller and a grand slam off Daniel Hinz. In the semifinals, he singled off Jonathan Loáisiga in the bottom of the 11th and made it to third with a 7-6 deficit against Nicaragua but was stranded. He tied Jakub Malik and Agustín Murillo for the most RBI in the Mexico pool.

Sources[edit]

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