Prospect Spotlight: Bernie Martinez

Pitcher Bernie Martinez may have set a record in the 2019 season, when he played at five minor league levels in the Seattle Mariners organization. The 24 year-old Laredo, Texas native was signed in June 2019 as an undrafted free agent after playing at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and assigned to the Arizona League (Rookie) Mariners. His pitching prowess launched him on a journey that saw him rise all the way to Double-A before the end of the season.

Martinez, a 6’0 right-hander, lit up the system and turned some heads as baseball people wondered how such a talented guy was not drafted. What it proves is that not being drafted isn’t the end of the world.

Bernie started his pro career in Arizona, going 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA, and a 0.64 WHIP in 9 games, 23.1 innings. He walked just 1 batter and struck out 33 - yes, you read that correctly - 33 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. His next stop was the Everett AquaSox in the Short-season A Northwest League for 4 games. In 7 innings, he allowed just 1 hit, 1 walk, no runs, with 6 strikeouts. 

In mid-August, Martinez flew cross-country to the West Virginia Power (Full season-A, South Atlantic League) for just one game - one start, 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 ER, striking out 5, for a win. Five days later, another cross-country flight took him to Modesto (Adv.-A, California League.) He stayed for 2 games, 2 innings where the aggressive Visalia batters tagged him for 6 hits, 7 runs, and 4 walks. It wasn’t a perfect way to spend time in California, but a few days later, Bernie was on another plane, flying to meet the Double-A Texas League Arkansas Travelers in Amarillo, Texas. In his final 2 games of the 2019 season, he threw 5 innings, and again allowed 6 hits, 5 runs, with no walks and 4 strikeouts.

With a solid first pro season, Martinez went 3-1, 18 games, 43.1 innings, a 3.12 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, just 6 walks and 49 strikeouts. He allowed 15 earned runs and held opposing hitters to a .196 average.

For 2021, Martinez is shown back with Everett, which has moved up to Advanced-A. Expect to see this talented pitcher do even better after a year of racking up frequent flyer miles and strikeouts. 

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