A third baseman , abbreviated 3B , is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5.
55-637: The Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award , commonly referred to as the Edgar Martínez Award and originally known as the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award , has been presented annually to the most outstanding designated hitter (DH) in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1973. The award is voted on by club beat reporters , broadcasters , and public relations departments. The Associated Press discontinued
110-603: A blind date ; they married in October 1992. They live in Kirkland, Washington , with their three children: Alex, Tessa, and Jacqueline. Martínez is one of the founders of Plaza Bank, founded in 2005 as Washington 's first Hispanic bank. Martínez and his wife Holli have contributed their time and money to Seattle Children's Hospital, including the Edgar Martínez Endowment for Muscular Dystrophy Research, established by
165-580: A designated hitter and third baseman for Seattle from 1987 to 2004. He served as the Mariners' hitting coach from 2015 to 2018, and currently in 2024. He has also been a hitting advisor with the Mariners from 2019 through 2024. Martínez grew up in Dorado, Puerto Rico . Not highly regarded as a prospect , he signed with the Mariners as a free agent in 1982, and was given a small signing bonus . He made his major league debut in 1987, but did not establish himself as
220-567: A pinch runner . Martínez became a full-time designated hitter in 1995. He won the Player of the Month Award for June, hitting .402 with a .537 OBP and a .761 SLG, and another Player of the Week Award. He was also selected to the 1995 All-Star Game and set career highs in eleven offensive categories. At the end of the year he won his second AL batting title with a team record .356, while also leading
275-442: A .233 batting average and 3.4 runs scored per game in the 68 games coached by Johnson to a .260 average and 4.6 runs per game with Martínez in 94 games. Though Jerry Dipoto , newly hired as general manager, fired Lloyd McClendon as manager after the season, he retained Martínez. Martínez coached the Mariners through to the end of the 2018 season. Out of a desire to spend more time with his family, Martínez moved from hitting coach to
330-401: A full-time player until 1990, at age 27. In the 1995 American League Division Series , he hit " The Double ", which won the series and increased public support for Mariners baseball as they attempted to fund a new stadium. He continued to play until 2004, when injuries forced him to retire. Martínez was a seven-time MLB All-Star , five-time Silver Slugger , and two-time batting champion . He
385-504: A hitting advisor role with the Mariners organization after the 2018 season. Following the firing of Jarret DeHart on August 22, 2024, the Mariners announced that Martínez would be serving as the team's hitting coach for the remainder of the season. On November 25, Martínez would be replaced by Kevin Seitzer as the hitting coach but will remain with the Mariners in overseeing the club's hitting program. Martínez met Holli ( née ) Beeler on
440-617: A portrait "featuring his high stepping batting style" painted by artist Michele Rushworth was presented to him by the Mariners. In 2004, MLB renamed the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award in Martínez's honor. In 2005, fans voted Martínez as the third baseman on the Latino Legends Team . Since his retirement, the Mariners did not issue Martinez' uniform number 11 to any other player. Under Mariners' team policy, he
495-498: A ruptured tendon in his left knee. Though he was batting .301 on September 8, he entered a slump late in the season and ended the year with a .277 batting average. In 2003, Martínez again dealt with hamstring injuries. He batted .304 in the first half of the season and was named to the 2003 MLB All-Star Game . On May 2, Martínez had his 2,000th career hit. He broke a toe when it was hit by a foul ball in September, which limited him until
550-400: A strong and accurate arm, as the third baseman often makes long throws to first base or quick ones to second base to start a double play . As with middle infielders , right-handed throwing players are standard at the position because they do not need to turn their body before throwing across the infield to first base. Mike Squires , who played fourteen games at third base in 1982 and 1983,
605-458: A third baseman, and proceeded to hit .372 over his first 13 career games. However, the Mariners were committed to using Jim Presley as their third baseman. In 1988, Martínez began the season with Calgary, but was called up to the major leagues in early May. He played in four games with the Mariners before being returned to Calgary, where he hit .363, the best batting average in the PCL. In September he
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#1732883693925660-489: A third baseman. In 34 postseason games, he batted .266 (34-for-128) with 16 runs, 7 doubles, 8 home runs, 24 RBI and 19 walks. Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera , when asked whether there was anyone he was afraid to face, said that he was never afraid, but "I will put it like this: The only guy that I didn't want to face, when a tough situation comes, was Edgar Martínez. The reason is because I couldn't get him out. (laughs) I couldn't get him out. It didn't matter how I threw
715-669: A two-run double off Jack McDowell , winning the game for the Mariners, 6–5, and series, 3–2. The win sent the Mariners to the American League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history, against the Cleveland Indians, a series they would eventually lose in six games. A lot of people remember that double when they talk about my career, I'd say, yeah, that would define my career. The double entered baseball lore, referred to as "The Double", by Mariners fans. The Mariners' 1995 postseason run helped build
770-457: Is a very rare example of a third baseman who threw lefty. Some third basemen have been converted from middle infielders or outfielders because the position does not require them to run as fast. The third baseman must also field fly balls in fair and foul territories . Expectations of how well a third baseman should be able to hit have risen over time; in the early years of the sport, these expectations were similar to those for shortstops ,
825-474: Is going to surprise a lot of people. He knows there is no one in the wings, just Edgar Martinez to back him up." However, Coles committed five errors in Seattle's first six games. Lefebvre moved Coles to the outfield and began playing Martínez at third base. Over 144 games, Martínez hit .302, and had a .397 on-base percentage , both of which led the team. Martínez signed a two-year contract worth $ 850,000 before
880-446: Is known as the " hot corner ", because the third baseman is often the infielder who stands closest to the batter—roughly 90–120 feet away, but even closer if a bunt is expected. Most right-handed hitters tend to hit the ball hard in this direction. A third baseman must possess good hand-eye coordination and quick reactions to catch batted balls whose speed can exceed 120 miles per hour (190 km/h). The third base position requires
935-691: Is one of 18 MLB players to record a batting average of .300, an on-base percentage of .400, and a slugging percentage of .500 in 5,000 or more plate appearances . The Mariners retired his uniform number 11 and inducted him into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame . In 2019 , Martínez was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame . Martínez was born in New York City on January 2, 1963, to José and Christina Salgado Martinez, who were from Puerto Rico . His parents divorced when he
990-544: The 1906 Chicago Cubs with 116 wins on the season. Martínez hit .313 with two home runs in the 2001 ALDS as Seattle defeated Cleveland, but he batted .150 in the 2001 ALCS as they lost to the Yankees. He won the Silver Slugger Award and the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award in 2001. Martínez dealt with leg injuries in 2002, playing in 97 games. He left a game after pulling his hamstring and had surgery to repair
1045-551: The 1971 World Series . He played with his cousin Carmelo Martínez in the backyard of his home. Scouts watched Carmelo with interest, but Edgar did not draw their attention. He attended the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico , studying business administration. He played semiprofessional baseball and worked two jobs, as a supervisor in a furniture store by day and in a General Electric factory at night. At
1100-521: The 2000 American League Championship Series (ALCS). Martínez finished sixth in AL MVP Award balloting, and won the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. In 2001, Martínez was again elected to the All-Star Game. He batted .306 with 116 RBIs, his tenth season with a .300 or better batting average (his seventh consecutive) and his sixth season with 100 RBIs. Seattle tied the major league record set by
1155-611: The 2022 season . In 2021, Shohei Ohtani became the first player to win both the Edgar Martínez Award and the American League MVP award in the same season. He accomplished this feat again after the 2023 season. In 2024, Ohtani became the second player to win the award from the National League, and the only player to win the award from both leagues. Ten players have won the award multiple times. David Ortiz has won
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#17328836939251210-668: The Arizona Instructional League (AIL) after the season. Keller did not believe Martínez would be able to hit in the major leagues, and initially did not want to assign him to the AIL, which is reserved for the best prospects . Keller included Martínez in the AIL that year, where he batted .340. In 1984, Martínez batted .303 with 15 home runs and 84 walks for the Wausau Timbers of the Class A Midwest League . Martínez played for
1265-824: The Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League and Calgary Cannons of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 1985, batting .258 in 111 games for Chattanooga and .353 in 20 games for Calgary. He returned to Chattanooga in 1986 and had a .960 fielding percentage , which led all third basemen . Playing for Calgary in 1987, Martínez had a .327 batting average, 10 home runs, and 31 doubles in 129 games. He led Calgary in batting average, as well as hits, doubles, batting average, on base percentage, games played, and walks. Martínez made his major league debut on September 12, 1987, as
1320-504: The New York Yankees , Martínez hit .571 and was on base 18 times in five games. In Game 4 of that series, he hit a three-run home run, then a grand slam home run that broke a 6–6 tie, en route to an 11–8 victory. His seven runs batted in (RBIs) in that game tied a single-game postseason record. The win knotted the best-of-five series at two games apiece and forced Game 5. Down 5–4 in the 11th inning of that decisive game, Martínez hit
1375-416: The 1991 season. In 1991, he won his first MLB Player of the Week Award for the week ending July 14. He finished the 1991 season hitting .307/.405/.452, all career highs. In 1992, Martínez was selected to his first All-Star Game , and won his first MLB Player of the Month Award for July and his second for August, During the season, Martínez signed a three-year contract with Seattle worth $ 10 million,
1430-572: The 1999 season, he led the AL with a .447 OBP and batted .337. He recorded his 1,500th hit on August 14. In 2000, Martínez earned his fifth All-Star Game selection. He hit 37 home runs, his single-season best, and led the American League with 145 RBIs. The Mariners reached the postseason, and Martínez batted .364 in the 2000 ALDS , defeating the Chicago White Sox . The Mariners lost to the Yankees in
1485-586: The Mariners in honor of his retirement, and the Children's Hospital Annual Wishing Well Night at T-Mobile Park . Martínez has also supported the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Overlake Hospital , Make-A-Wish Foundation , Wishing Star Foundation, United Way , Esperanza, Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters , Boys & Girls Clubs of America , and Mariners Care. Because of his contributions, on June 20, 2007, Martínez
1540-519: The award eight times, more than any other player (2003–2007, 2011, 2013, 2016). Other repeat winners of the award include Martinez himself (five times), four-time winner Shohei Ohtani (2021–2024), three-time winner Hal McRae (1976, 1980, and 1982), and two-time winners Willie Horton (1975 and 1979), Greg Luzinski (1981 and 1983), Don Baylor (1985 and 1986), Harold Baines (1987 and 1988), Dave Parker (1989 and 1990), Paul Molitor (1993 and 1996), and Nelson Cruz (2017 and 2019). Shohei Ohtani has
1595-524: The award in 2000, but it was picked up by the Baseball Writers' Association of America , which has administered it since. All players with a minimum of 100 at bats at DH are eligible. From the award's inception in 1973 until 2019, and in 2021, use of the designated hitter was allowed only in the American League (AL). In September 2004, at Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park ) ceremonies in honor of Edgar Martínez , Commissioner Bud Selig announced that
1650-540: The award to designated hitters in either league. The 2020 winner was Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves , who became the first-ever winner of the award from the National League. In 2021 , MLB returned to only using the designated hitter for the American League, before a new collective bargaining agreement between MLB and its players' union allowed the use of the designated hitter in the National League beginning in
1705-528: The award would be renamed for the five-time recipient (1995, 1997–98, 2000–01). In an 18-year career with the Seattle Mariners , primarily as a designated hitter, Martínez batted .312, with 309 career home runs and 1,261 runs batted in . In 2020 , Major League Baseball allowed the use of the designated hitter for the National League (NL) in addition to the American League, expanding eligibility for
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1760-409: The ball. I couldn't get him out. Oh, my God, he had more than my number. He had my breakfast, lunch and dinner. He got everything from me." Versus Rivera, Martínez was able to log a .579 batting average, with 11 hits during 19 at bats. Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martínez (no relation) also named Edgar Martínez as one of the toughest hitters he had to pitch against in his career because, Pedro said, he
1815-461: The end of the season. He ended the season with a .294 batting average, 24 home runs, and a .403 OBP. He won his fifth Silver Slugger Award in 2003. In 2004, Martínez struggled with a sore back, leg injuries, and difficulties with his eyesight. The Mariners struggled, falling out of the postseason chase, and the team began to give playing time at designated hitter to Bucky Jacobsen . On August 9, 2004, Martínez announced his retirement, effective at
1870-773: The end of the season. Martínez said this about his choice of retiring and career in Seattle: It is hard, very hard, I feel in my mind and my heart I want to keep playing. But my body is saying something differently, so I feel this is a good decision. Martínez won the Roberto Clemente Award after the 2004 season. In 2055 games over 18 seasons, Martinez posted a .312 batting average (2247-for-7213) with 1219 runs , 514 doubles , 15 triples , 309 home runs , 1261 RBI , 49 stolen bases , 1283 walks , .418 on-base percentage , and .515 slugging percentage . Defensively, he recorded an overall .952 fielding percentage primarily as
1925-481: The game such as hitting and base running. By the 2018 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting , his ninth year on the ballot, Martínez's vote total increased to 70.4%. The 2019 ballot , his last chance for election by the Baseball Writers' Association of America , elected him to the Hall of Fame, appearing on 85.4% of the ballots cast. He became the second player to enter the Hall of Fame as a Mariner, after Ken Griffey Jr. , and
1980-558: The groundswell of public support that led the Washington State Legislature to enact legislation to fund a dedicated baseball stadium in Seattle to replace the Kingdome . Mariners' manager Lou Piniella referred to it as "the hit, the run, the game, the series and the season that saved baseball in Seattle." In 1996, Martínez batted .327 and was selected for the 1996 MLB All-Star Game . He played one game at third base during
2035-510: The largest contract given out by Seattle to that point. At the end of the 1992 season, Martínez had a .343 batting average, which led all of MLB. It was the first batting title for Seattle and the franchise's highest single-season batting average (this has since been surpassed by Ichiro Suzuki ). He also tied Frank Thomas for the most doubles in MLB, and set a team record for most in a season (this has since been surpassed by Alex Rodriguez ). After
2090-482: The league in runs scored with 121, doubles with 52, OBP with .479 and on-base plus slugging (OPS) with 1.109 (all team highs at that point). He also finished third in AL Most Valuable Player Award voting behind Mo Vaughn and Albert Belle . He won his second Silver Slugger Award and his first Outstanding Designated Hitter Award . In the 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS) against
2145-437: The most wins of any active player. Boston Red Sox players have won the most Edgar Martínez Awards with eleven. Edgar Mart%C3%ADnez As coach Edgar Martínez (born January 2, 1963), nicknamed " Gar " and " Papi ", is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player who is currently the senior director of hitting strategy coach for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB as
2200-696: The offer, due to the money he was making in Puerto Rico, but Carmelo convinced him to sign. Martínez made his professional debut in Minor League Baseball with the Bellingham Mariners of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League in 1983 as a third baseman. He had a .173 batting average , zero home runs and only 18 hits. The scout who signed Martínez convinced Hal Keller , the Mariners' general manager , to assign him to
2255-536: The regular season, Martínez played winter baseball in the Puerto Rican Baseball League . He batted .424 in 43 games, leading the league, and was named co- MVP with Carlos Baerga . In 1990, Martínez signed a one-year contract for $ 90,000. Though Presley was no longer a Mariner, Darnell Coles began the season as the Mariners' starting third baseman, with manager Jim Lefebvre telling The Seattle Times during spring training: "I think Darnell Coles
Edgar Martínez Award - Misplaced Pages Continue
2310-403: The season ended. In 1994, in his first plate appearance of the season, opposing pitcher Dennis Martínez hit him in the right wrist, and he was placed on the disabled list. Between the injuries and the 1994 MLB strike , he played in 131 games during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. In 89 games played in 1994, he played 65 games as a third baseman and 23 as a designated hitter , with one appearance as
2365-501: The season, during which he collided with John Marzano , breaking four ribs and missing 21 games. On August 21, 1996, Martínez recorded his 1,000th career MLB hit. Martínez was selected to the 1997 MLB All-Star Game and won the Silver Slugger Award at the end of the 1997 season. He finished second in the AL with a .330 average. The Mariners made the 1997 ALDS , but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in four games. Martínez batted .188 in
2420-463: The season, he was awarded his first American League (AL) Silver Slugger Award as a third baseman. During an exhibition game at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver , British Columbia , before the 1993 season, Martínez tore his hamstring on an unzipped seam in the turf between first and second base. He missed 42 games at the start of the season, and was placed on the disabled list two more times before
2475-417: The series. He won his second Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. In 1998, Martínez batted .320 with 29 home runs. He led the AL with a .429 OBP, and won his third Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. In 1999, Martínez was diagnosed with strabismus , a condition which causes the eyes to not properly align. For Martínez, his right eye would intermittently drift and cause him to lose depth perception. For
2530-455: The sixth player to be elected in his final year of eligibility, after Red Ruffing , Joe Medwick , Ralph Kiner , Jim Rice , and Tim Raines . He entered the Hall with the aforementioned Rivera, who was elected in his 1st year of eligibility, along with the late Roy Halladay (1st ballot, posthumous). A statue of Martínez was installed outside Seattle's T-Mobile Park in 2021. The Complejo Deportivo Edgar Martinez , named after Martínez,
2585-431: The suggestion of the owner of his semiprofessional team, Martínez attended a tryout held by the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Despite nearly missing the tryout after a long night working at the factory and being "so tired [he] couldn't swing the bat," the Mariners signed him to a contract with a $ 4,000 signing bonus (a small amount at the time) on December 12, 1982. He initially considered declining
2640-400: The third baseman being merely the less skilled defensive player. Players who could hit with more ability often were not suited for third base, either because they were left-handed or because they were not mobile enough for the position. However, the beginning of the live-ball era in the 1920s created a greater demand for more offense, and third basemen have since been expected to hit either for
2695-426: The vote required for induction, Martínez received 36.2% of the vote. While some sports writers felt that his batting numbers do not overcome the one-dimensional aspect of his career as a DH, others have compared this to the specialty of closers whose contribution to their teams victories resides on working one inning to preserve an advantage and the fact that these late inning relievers are not involved in other facets of
2750-494: Was built in barrio Higuillar in Dorado. Sustaining structural damages as a result of Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, a $ 700,000 restoration of the sports complex was completed in 2021. The complex hosts school sports competitions and has a baseball field, a track field, a basketball court and a gym. On June 20, 2015, the Mariners hired Martínez as their hitting coach, reassigning Howard Johnson . The team's offense improved from
2805-520: Was called up again, and over 10 games hit .389. In his second MLB season, he hit .281 with a .351 on-base percentage (OBP) and a .406 slugging percentage over 14 games. The Mariners named Martínez their starting third baseman on their Opening Day roster in 1989. He struggled and was sent back down to Calgary in May. He hit .345 over 32 games for the Cannons and .240 in 65 games for the Mariners in 1989. After
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#17328836939252860-557: Was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in Boise, Idaho . In 2006, Martínez co-founded Branded Solutions, a corporate merchandise category, with two executives from ImageSource . He sold the company to ImageSource in 2010. For the 2013 season, the Mariners worked with Martínez, local chef Ethan Stowell and bartender Anu Apte to create "Edgar's Cantina" at T-Mobile Park. Third baseman Third base
2915-419: Was not eligible to have his uniform number formally retired until 2010, when he became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time. The Mariners inducted Martínez into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame on June 2, 2007, and retired Martinez's #11 jersey on August 12, 2017. First eligible to be elected into the Hall of Fame in the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting , and with 75% of
2970-485: Was two years old, and he was taken in by his grandparents, who lived in the barrio of Maguayo in Dorado, Puerto Rico . Martínez taught himself how to speak English and how to use computers. When he was 11 years old, his parents reconciled. His brother and sister returned to New York to live with their parents, but Edgar opted to remain in Dorado with his grandparents. Martinez became inspired to play baseball after watching fellow Puerto Rican Roberto Clemente play in
3025-537: Was very disciplined at the plate and "would foul off pitches that would wipe out anybody else." Martínez was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame on September 9, 2003, in a pregame on field ceremony at Safeco Field . In October 2004, following his retirement, a section of South Atlantic Street ( State Route 519 ) in Seattle adjacent to Safeco Field was renamed Edgar Martínez Drive South. At his retirement ceremony,
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