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Blue Jays 40-man Roster Review: Orelvis Martínez missed the second half of 2024 due to a suspension
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Photo credit: Bisons PR
Ryley Delaney
Jan 24, 2025, 10:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 23, 2025, 23:40 EST
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Orelvis Martínez is set to return from a lengthy suspension.
This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual 40-man Roster Review, where we look at the players on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster. We’ll look at how the player performed in 2024, his season projections for the 2025 season, and any storylines heading into this coming season. In this article, we’ll look at Orelvis Martínez.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Martínez during the 2018 International Free Agency period to one of the largest bonuses in team history. In 2021, he hit 28 home runs and slashed .261/.345/.549 between Single-A and High-A. He struggled to hit for average in Double-A New Hampshire in 2022, but managed to hit 30 home runs, the most in the organization.
In 2023, Martínez figured out his hit tool in 2023 with the Fisher Cats and Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, slashing .243/.340/.496 with 28 home runs in 538 plate appearances for a 114 wRC+. The infielder got off to a good start in 2024 with the Bisons, slashing .260/.343/.523 with 16 home runs in 269 plate appearances. He even earned a call-up to the big leagues, where he registered a hit.
However, Martínez was suspended for 80 games due to steroid use. The 2024 Blue Jays would’ve been the perfect opportunity to see what they had in Martínez, as they ended up selling at the deadline and using many of their prospects.
Martínez returned in September for the Bisons where he had a home run, a triple, and five doubles in 50 plate appearances, slashing .304/.360/.522.  As a whole, Martínez slashed .267/.346/.523 with 17 home runs in 319 plate appearances. For the first time since 2019, he didn’t lead the Jays’ minor league system in home runs.
As for his Fangraphs’ projections, Steamer has him slashing .221/.288/.405 with eight home runs in 196 plate appearances. His best projection is OOPSY, as it projects the 23-year-old to slash .230/.290/.446 with 10 home runs in 210 plate appearances, while ATC has him slashing .219/.282/.393 with seven home runs in 197 plate appearances.
The storyline surrounding Martínez is whether or not he can return to form after the lengthy layoff. Third base is up for grabs and despite playing second base for the past two seasons, Martínez has a good opportunity to earn it out of camp due to his massive pop and improved hit tool.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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