Ladies and gentlemen, Orelvis Martinez is here.

On Tuesday, the Blue Jays called up the 22-year-old infielder to replace Bo Bichette, who was placed on the 10-day Injured List. That begs the question, who is Orelvis Martinez?
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ROSTER MOVES: 
🔹 SS Bo Bichette placed on 10-day IL (right calf strain) 
🔹 INF Orelvis Martinez recalled from Triple-A and will be active for tonight’s game 
🔹 LHP Brandon Eisert optioned 
🔹 RHP Ryan Burr recalled from Triple-A and will be active for tonight’s game <a href="https://t.co/UTNLphTchh">pic.twitter.com/UTNLphTchh</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1803144423544328430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Martinez signed as an international free agent during the 2018 period for a signing bonus of $3.5 million, the fourth-largest bonus they’ve handed out behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $3.9 million bonus, Adeiny Hechavarría’s $4 million bonus, and Enmanuel Bonilla’s $4.1 million bonus.
The infielder made his professional debut in 2019 in the Gulf Coast League (now Florida Complex League) as a 17-year-old, slashing .275/.352/.549 with seven homers in 163 plate appearances for a 150 wRC+.
Martinez became a prospect worth monitoring in 2021, slashing .279/.369/.572 with 19 homers in 326 plate appearances with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. He had a brief stint in High-A Vancouver that season, adding nine more homers in 125 plate appearances, but slashed just .214/.282/.491. Interestingly, he has yet to play in Canada.
Toronto saw it fit to challenge the then 20-year-old in Double-A. On a surface level, his .203/.286/.446 slash line in 492 plate appearances, along with an 8.1 BB% and a 28.5 K% for a 96 wRC+ wasn’t great. However, he hit 30 home runs, tied for the second most in Double-A, only behind 27-year-old Quincy Nieporte and tied with 23-year-old Lenadro Cedeño.
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30!!!!!! 30 HOMERS FOR ORELVIS MARTINEZ (<a href="https://twitter.com/OrelvisMartine3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OrelvisMartine3</a>)
He&#39;s insane, just trails the AA lead by one.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextLevel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextLevel</a> <a href="https://t.co/eLeEPrcM7i">pic.twitter.com/eLeEPrcM7i</a>
&mdash; Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ryley_L_D/status/1570919992547504128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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After a rough first month to start the 2023 season with New Hampshire, Martinez ended up slashing .226/.339/.485 with 17 homers in 292 plate appearances for a 122 wRC+, earning a promotion to Triple-A. More impressively, his BB% increased from 8.1% to 14%, while his K% dropped from 28.5% to 20.5%. He became a top 100 prospect once again.
The second half of Martinez’s season was spent in Buffalo, where he slashed .263/.340/.507 with 11 homers in 246 plate appearances, along with a 10.6 BB% and a 26.8 K% for a 105 wRC+.
Once again, Martinez repeated the level to begin the season. In 269 plate appearances in Triple-A, Martinez slashed .260/.343/.523 with 16 homers in 269 plate appearances, along with an 8.9 BB% and a 24.2 K% for a 119 wRC+. After a terrific start to his year, he cooled off in May before once again picking it this month.
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Martinez earns himself today&#39;s Highmark Highlight of the Game 💪 <a href="https://t.co/FHbqKVAYtx">pic.twitter.com/FHbqKVAYtx</a>
&mdash; Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1802466683614814389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The question is, where will Martinez play? The 22-year-old has played 298 innings (or 36 games) at second base, committing 12 errors as one of the easier positions on the dirt. He’s naturally a shortstop, but his third base numbers are better, playing 128 innings at the hot corner and making just two errors.
Moreover, Spencer Horwitz has been playing second base since his call-up, and with Bichette’s injury, Isiah Kiner-Falefa is likely to get the majority of the playing time at shortstop. Meaning that Martinez will likely play third base for the time being.
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Ladies and gentlemen, Orelvis Martinez is here.



On Tuesday, the Blue Jays called up the 22-year-old infielder to replace Bo Bichette, who was placed on the 10-day Injured List. That begs the question, who is Orelvis Martinez?

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1803144423544328430

Martinez signed as an international free agent during the 2018 period for a signing bonus of $3.5 million, the fourth-largest bonus they’ve handed out behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $3.9 million bonus, Adeiny Hechavarría’s $4 million bonus, and Enmanuel Bonilla’s $4.1 million bonus.

The infielder made his professional debut in 2019 in the Gulf Coast League (now Florida Complex League) as a 17-year-old, slashing .275/.352/.549 with seven homers in 163 plate appearances for a 150 wRC+.

Martinez became a prospect worth monitoring in 2021, slashing .279/.369/.572 with 19 homers in 326 plate appearances with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. He had a brief stint in High-A Vancouver that season, adding nine more homers in 125 plate appearances, but slashed just .214/.282/.491. Interestingly, he has yet to play in Canada.

Toronto saw it fit to challenge the then 20-year-old in Double-A. On a surface level, his .203/.286/.446 slash line in 492 plate appearances, along with an 8.1 BB% and a 28.5 K% for a 96 wRC+ wasn’t great. However, he hit 30 home runs, tied for the second most in Double-A, only behind 27-year-old Quincy Nieporte and tied with 23-year-old Lenadro Cedeño.

https://twitter.com/Ryley_L_D/status/1570919992547504128

After a rough first month to start the 2023 season with New Hampshire, Martinez ended up slashing .226/.339/.485 with 17 homers in 292 plate appearances for a 122 wRC+, earning a promotion to Triple-A. More impressively, his BB% increased from 8.1% to 14%, while his K% dropped from 28.5% to 20.5%. He became a top 100 prospect once again.

The second half of Martinez’s season was spent in Buffalo, where he slashed .263/.340/.507 with 11 homers in 246 plate appearances, along with a 10.6 BB% and a 26.8 K% for a 105 wRC+.

Once again, Martinez repeated the level to begin the season. In 269 plate appearances in Triple-A, Martinez slashed .260/.343/.523 with 16 homers in 269 plate appearances, along with an 8.9 BB% and a 24.2 K% for a 119 wRC+. After a terrific start to his year, he cooled off in May before once again picking it this month.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1802466683614814389

The question is, where will Martinez play? The 22-year-old has played 298 innings (or 36 games) at second base, committing 12 errors as one of the easier positions on the dirt. He’s naturally a shortstop, but his third base numbers are better, playing 128 innings at the hot corner and making just two errors.

Moreover, Spencer Horwitz has been playing second base since his call-up, and with Bichette’s injury, Isiah Kiner-Falefa is likely to get the majority of the playing time at shortstop. Meaning that Martinez will likely play third base for the time being.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Getting to know Orelvis Martinez, the newest top prospect to join the Blue Jays

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