Brett Martin (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Brett Martin

|image =

|team =

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|4|28}}

|birth_place = Morristown, Tennessee, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 19

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = Texas Rangers

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = September 16

|finalyear = 2022

|finalteam = Texas Rangers

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 8–15

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.85

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 152

|teams =

Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2022}})

}}

Brett Ryan Martin (born April 28, 1995) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers from 2019 to 2022.

Amateur career

Martin attended Morristown-Hamblen High School East in Morristown, Tennessee. Undrafted out of high school, Martin initially attended the University of Tennessee, but suffered an injury and transferred before appearing in a game.{{cite news|url=https://www.citizentribune.com/sports/local/brett-martin-heads-to-first-big-league-training-camp-looking/article_401bbc84-0ede-11e8-a1c1-8735e7170ed1.html|title=Brett Martin heads to first big league training camp looking to improve|author=Matt Daniels|newspaper=Citizen Tribune|date=February 10, 2018|accessdate=October 4, 2019}} He transferred to Walters State Community College and played college baseball in 2014 for them, producing a 9–2 record with a 3.83 earned run average (ERA) in 42 innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=187813|title=Brett Martin|website=The Baseball Cube|accessdate=April 18, 2019}}

Professional career

Martin was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round, with the 126th overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft and signed for a $475,000 signing bonus.{{cite web|author=WFAA Staff|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/rangers-sign-three-selections-from-2014-draft/287-254929809|title=Rangers sign three selections from 2014 Draft|website=WFAA|date=June 10, 2014|accessdate=October 4, 2019}}{{cite web|author=WFAA Staff|url=http://www.wfaa.com/sports/texas-rangers-top-prospect-no-5-brett-martin/422209998|title=Texas Rangers Top Prospect No. 5: Brett Martin|website=WFAA|date=March 14, 2017|accessdate=February 27, 2018}} He made his professional debut in 2014 with the Rookie-level Arizona League Rangers, going 1–4 with a 5.40 ERA in 15 games. In 2015, Martin played for the Hickory Crawdads of the Single-A South Atlantic League, compiling a 5–6 record and 3.49 ERA in 20 games (18 starts).{{cite web|url=https://crawdadsbeat.com/2015/07/18/brett-martin-developing-consistency/|title=Brett Martin: Developing Consistency|author=Mark Parker|website=MLB.com|date=July 18, 2015|accessdate=October 4, 2019}} In 2016, he played for the AZL Rangers, Crawdads, and High Desert Mavericks of the High-A California League, posting a combined 4–4 record with a 4.41 ERA in 17 starts between the three teams. Martin appeared in three games for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&sid=l119&cid=542&y=2016|title=Statistics: 2016 Surprise Saguaros|website=MLB.com|accessdate=April 18, 2019}} Martin spent 2017 with the Down East Wood Ducks of the High-A Carolina League where he started 16 games and collected a 4–8 record and 4.70 ERA with 90 strikeouts in {{frac|84|1|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=656685#/career/R/pitching/2017/ALL|title=Brett Martin Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|website=MiLB.com|accessdate=March 25, 2018}}

On November 20, 2017, the Rangers added Martin to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-brett-martin-added-to-40-man-roster/|title=Rangers' Brett Martin: Added to 40-man roster|website=CBSSports.com|author=RotoWire Staff|date=November 20, 2017|accessdate=April 18, 2019}} He spent the 2018 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League with whom he struggled, posting a 2–10 record with a 7.28 ERA in 89 innings over 29 games (15 starts). In 2019, Martin was optioned to the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to open the season, as a reliever.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/nashville/news/nashville-sounds-2019-opening-day-roster/c-305734174|title=Sounds Announce Tentative Opening Day Roster|website=MiLB.com|date=March 27, 2019|accessdate=March 29, 2019}}

On April 19, 2019, Martin was called up to the major league roster for the first time.{{cite news|url=https://www.citizentribune.com/news/local/former-east-wscc-standout-brett-martin-called-up-to-majors/article_7506ecd8-62cb-11e9-994e-93ceb9be816f.html|title=Former East, WSCC standout Brett Martin called up to majors by Texas Rangers|newspaper=Citizen Tribune|author=Staff Reports|date=April 19, 2019|accessdate=April 19, 2019}} He made his debut that night, recording a scoreless inning in relief versus the Houston Astros.{{cite news|url=https://www.citizentribune.com/sports/local/morristown-native-brett-martin-impresses-in-first-mlb-action/article_dee8846c-63fd-11e9-b681-439b90e0eff6.html|title=Morristown native Brett Martin impresses in first MLB action|author=Staff Reports|newspaper=Citizen Tribune|date=April 21, 2019|accessdate=October 4, 2019}} He finished the 2019 season with Texas, going 2–3 with a 4.76 ERA and 62 strikeouts over {{frac|62|1|3}} innings. In 2020, Martin was 1–1 with a 1.84 ERA in {{frac|14|2|3}} innings. Over {{frac|62|1|3}} innings in 2021 for Texas, Martin posted a 4–4 record with a 3.18 ERA while striking out 42 batters.{{Cite web|last=Weaver|first=Levi|date=October 4, 2021|title=Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Pitchers edition|url=https://theathletic.com/2863303/2021/10/04/grading-the-2021-texas-rangers-pitchers-edition/|url-status=live|access-date=October 5, 2021|website=The Athletic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004221345/https://theathletic.com/2863303/2021/10/04/grading-the-2021-texas-rangers-pitchers-edition/ |archive-date=October 4, 2021 }} In 2022, Martin posted a 1–7 record with a 4.14 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 50 innings.{{Cite magazine |last=Postins |first=Matthew |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Brett Martin |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-40-man-roster-brett-martin-profile-review-offseason |access-date=January 8, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

On January 13, 2023, it was announced that Martin would undergo shoulder surgery and would miss the 2023 season.{{Cite web|title=Martin to have shoulder surgery, per reports|url=https://www.lonestarball.com/platform/amp/2023/1/13/23554176/brett-martin-texas-rangers-pitcher-shoulder-surgery-per-reports|access-date=January 13, 2023|website=lonestarball.com|date=January 13, 2023 |language=en}} On November 17, he was non-tendered by the Rangers and became a free agent. On October 5, 2024, Martin confirmed his retirement from professional baseball.{{Cite web|title=Former Texas Ranger Brett Martin speaks at Morristown Rotary Club|url=https://www.citizentribune.com/sports/baseball/former-texas-ranger-brett-martin-speaks-at-morristown-rotary-club/article_f57f1abe-82b6-11ef-8e51-439ccec16cac.html|access-date=March 29, 2025|website=citizentribune.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Martin has type 1 diabetes.{{cite web|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangers/2018/01/30/rangers-top-prospects-no-6-right-left-handed-pitcher-dazzling-stuff|title=Rangers top prospects, No. 6: When right, this left-handed pitcher has dazzling stuff|authorlink=Gerry Fraley|first=Gerry|last=Fraley|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=January 30, 2018|accessdate=April 20, 2019}} On July 3, 2020, it was announced that Martin had tested positive for COVID-19.{{Cite web|date=July 3, 2020|title=Rangers Pitcher Brett Martin Tests Positive For Coronavirus|website=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/rangers-pitcher-brett-martin-tests-positive-coronavirus/|access-date=July 5, 2020|language=en-US}}