Romelio Martínez

Romelio Martínez Hernández

• Born August 22, 1965 in Bajucal Cuba
• Died December 17, 2017 in Havana Cuba

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Romelio Martínez was a prodigious Cuban slugger of the late 20th Century, winning four home run titles, but only once made the Cuban national team for a major tournament during its heyday due to more prominent players. He was a Three True Outcomes player noted for his power, walks and whiffs and not especially for contact or speed.

Martínez first got notice in 1986-1987, playing for La Habana, when he led the Cuban Serie Nacional with 58 walks and 11 intentional walks. He was named Home Run King and Best Hitter at the 1987 World Port Tournament. He led the Serie Nacional with 49 walks in 1988-1989. In the 1990 Series Selectivas, his 64 RBI for the Agropecuarios led the league. In 1990-1991, he paced the loop with 47 RBI. He hit .409/~.552/.818 with 12 runs as Cuba's DH in the 1991 Pan American Games, helping them win Gold in his only major tourney.

Romelio won his first home run title in the 1991 Series Selectivas, going deep 20 times and driving in 57. In the 1991-1992 Serie Nacional, he went deep for 19 times for Holguín to pace the loop. He led the Series Selectivas in homers with 10 in 1994 for Habana and 16 in 1995, also for Habana. He was one for eight with a double, walk and two RBI in the 1995 World Port Tournament.

Overall, Romelio batted .271/.404/.544 with 927 runs, 1,073 walks and 1,055 RBI. Not a defensive great, he fielded .936 overall. Through 2009, he ranked tied for 4th in Cuban annals (post-revolution) in home runs (even with Antonio Muñoz, behind Orestes Kindelán, Lázaro Junco and Omar Linares), 10th in slugging (behind four still-active players with a chance to drop), 4th in times hit by pitch (186), 7th in walks and first in strikeouts (1,078).