While he grew up in Miami, Nick comes from a Cuban family…his mother was born in the province of Pinar Del Río and his grandparents immigrated to the United States from Havana in 1961, giving birth to his father a year after their arrival…neither his father nor his mother spoke English when they settled in the country...Nick dreamed of making the big leagues as an infielder, but he took up pitching as a high school senior after his father set him up with lessons from former major league pitcher Juan Alvarez, who lived in the same South Florida neighborhood as the Martinezes and did some scouting work with the Texas Rangers…Nick saw only three mop-up innings in high school, but pitching 26 innings at Fordham (N.Y.) University and was eventually drafted by the Rangers as a pitcher despite indicating his desire to play the infield in multiple pre-draft questionnaires...He pitched four seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball from 2018-21…one of the things he misses most from his time overseas is yakiniku, which translates to “grilled meat” and refers to Japanese barbecue...In 2024, Nick gifted each of his Reds teammates with two custom, sleeveless jerseys created by a company called Freestyle Cut and Stitch that were inspired by the team’s alternate red jersey and City Connects…he got the idea from former teammate Joe Musgrove, who gifted Padres players sleeveless San Diego jerseys from the same company...Nick and his wife, Kimberly, have three daughters: Vera, Stella and Amelia...After his first season with the Reds, Nick had to decide whether to accept a qualifying offer from Cincinnati or become a free agent…he and Kimberly were inspired to stay in Cincinnati for Terry Francona’s first season as manager after they watched “The Comeback,” a Netflix documentary on Francona’s 2004 Red Sox. Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round (564th overall) of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Fordham (N.Y.) University...Played three seasons at Fordham, hitting .295 (167-for-567) with 34 XBH and 66 RBI over 152 career games…was primarily an infielder, but recorded 15 relief appearances, including 10 as a junior in 2011…the same season, led the club’s hitters in runs scored (46), walks (37) and on-base pct. (.404) while earning three saves as a closer...Attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, Fla.
2025
Spent most of the season in the Reds rotation, producing career highs in starts (26), innings pitched (165.2) and wins (11) while tying his career high from 2024 with 116 strikeouts...Of his first 29 appearanes, 26 were starts… pitched out of the bullpen on June 21 at STL, June 23 vs. NYY and Aug. 4 at CHC…beginning Aug. 29 vs. STL, worked exclusively as a reliever for his final 11 outings...Went 10-10 with a 4.72 ERA (145.0IP, 76ER) in 26 starts and 1-4 with a 2.61 ERA (20.2IP, 6ER) and five holds across 14 relief appearances..Became the third Red since 2000 to record double-digit wins in each of his first two seasons with the club, joining Mat Latos (2012-13) and Elmer Dessens (2000-01)...Made his fifth career Opening Day roster and second with the Reds...On March 30 vs. SF, carried a perfect game into the 5th inning of his first game of the year…the 4.1-IP bid was the longest by a Red in his season debut since Johnny Cueto (5 IP) in 2008… marked the second-longest perfect game bid of his career behind June 21, 2014 at LAA (5 IP)… his streak of 13 consecutive batters retired to open the season was the third-longest run by a Reds starter since 1976, trailing Cueto (15) in 2008 and Pat Darcy (15) in 1976…during the same start, saw his streak of 30 IP without a walk dating back to the previous season snapped…was the third-longest run by a Red in the expansion era (since 1961), trailing Jim Merritt (39.1IP, 1970) and Danny Graves (32.0IP, 2003)...From April 28–May 26, spun a career-high six consecutive quality starts, going 3-2 with a 2.13 ERA (38.0IP, 9ER) in that stretch...Issued only two free passes across five starts (32.0IP) in May…min. 30 IP, marked the fifth instance of a Reds starter walking two batters or fewer in a month since 1977, joining Bronson Arroyo (August 2013), John Smiley (July 1997), Tom Browning (April 1991) and John Denny (August 1986)...On May 15 vs. CWS, opened his start with 4.1 perfect frames en route to a career-high tying seven scoreless innings (5x)…paired with his Opening Day start, became the first Red to record multiple perfect game bids of 4.1 IP or more in a season since Johnny Cueto in 2008...On June 27 vs. SD, carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Elías Díaz led off the frame with a double…was the longest no-hit bid of his career and longest by a Red since Wade Miley’s no-no on May 7, 2021 at CLE…threw a career-high 112 pitches (also: May 28, 2015 vs. BOS) and pitched into the ninth inning for the first time in his career…along with teammate Spencer Steer, marked the first instance in MLB history a team had a pitcher throwing eight no-hit innings or more and a player hit three HR or more...In nine relief appearances during September, recorded a 1.93 ERA (14.0IP, 3ER) and three holds…lowered his career ERA during the month to 2.67 (141.1IP, 42)…entering 2026, the only active right-handed pitchers with better career marks during September (min. 100.0IP) are AZ Corbin Burnes (2.33), ATL Raisel Iglesias (2.35), CHC Jameson Taillon (2.47) and DET Kenley Jansen (2.49)...Since returning to the majors in 2022, has made 61 starts and 131 appearances out of the bullpen…over that span (2022-25), joined STL Andre Pallante (61GS/108G in relief) as the only MLB pitchers to start 50 games or more and make 100 relief appearances or more.
POSTSEASON: Recorded one out and yielded three runs on four hits Game 2 of the Reds NL Wild Card Series at LAD.
2024
Was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for September after posting a 0.83 ERA (32.2 IP, 6R/3ER), 30 strikeouts and four walks across his five starts...Was the first Red to earn the monthly honor since Trevor Bauer in Sept. 2020...Had two scoreless streaks of 15 innings (8/5 at MIA to 8/16 vs. KC; 9/14 at MIN to 9/27 at CHC), tied for the longest streak of his career (also: 8/1-8/29, 2022 for SD)...Had two separate streaks of 24.0+ innings without issuing a walk (24 IP, 7/26 at TB to 8/16 vs. KC; 26 IP, 9/9 at ATL to 9/27 at CCH), the two longest streaks of his career and the longest by a Reds pitcher since Dan Straily (26.1 IP) from 8/2-8/23, 2016...From 8/30 G-1 vs. MIL to 9/27 at CHC closed 2024 with a 34.0-inning homerless streak, the second-longest streak of his career (37.2 IP, 4/9-5/12, 2015 for TEX)...Set new career highs in innings pitched (142.1), wins (10), and strikeouts (116)...His three scoreless relief appearances of 4.0+ innings were second-most in MLB (TEX Josp Urexa, 4 G) and most by a Red in a season since Pedro Borbyn (also 3 G) in 1976...Became the second Cin pitcher since 1893 with four-plus scoreless starts of 5.0+ IP and three-plus scoreless relief appearances of 4.0+ IP in a season (also: Elmer Riddle, 1941)...His 1.86 ERA (53.1 IP, 12R/11ER) in relief was the fifth-lowest in the National League and eighth-lowest in the Majors among those with at least 53.1 innings pitched...Became the first Reds pitcher to win both five-plus games as a starter and five-plus games as a reliever in the same season since Norm Charlton (6 W as SP, 6 W as RP) in 1990...Began the season in the rotation, starting on 3/31 vs WSH and 4/6 vs. NYM before moving to the bullpen for relief appearances on 4/15 at SEA and 4/20 vs. LAA...Returned to the rotation for starts on 4/25 vs PHI and 4/30 at SD...Moved back to the bullpen for four relief appearances from 5/4 vs. BAL to 5/16 at LAD before again returning to the rotation on 5/22 vs. SD...Again returned to the bullpen, where from 5/26 vs. LAD to 8/2 vs. SF he made 20 appearances, all in relief...On 8/5 at MIA returned to the rotation and stayed there for the remainder of the season, starting in each of his final 11 appearances...On 4/6 vs NYM pitched in his 200th Major League game...On 4/25 vs. PHI allowed a career-high-tying 11 hits in the loss at GABP (3x, last: 7/4/16 for TEX at BOS)...On 5/16 at LAD tied his career high with five innings of relief (also: 4/28/14 for TEX vs. OAK)...In that scoreless relief appearance, allowed just one hit and had four strikeouts...Became the first Red with 5.0+ scoreless relief innings and one hit or fewer allowed in a relief appearance since Rich Gale (5.1 IP, 0 H) on 6/21/83 at SF...Marked the longest scoreless relief appearance by a Reds pitcher since Connor Overton (5.1 IP) on 9/30/22 at CHC, a mark that was later surpassed by Carson Spiers (5.2 IP) on 6/9 vs. CHC...On 5/26 vs. LAD pitched 4.1 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit...Became the first Reds reliever to pitch 4.0+ innings in back-to-back outings against the same opponent since Pedro Borbyn did so from 9/3-9/5, 1976 at ATL...Also became only the second Reds reliever since 1901 with consecutive scoreless outings of at least 4.1 innings pitched and fewer than two hits allowed, along with Elmer Riddle (5/28-5/30-G2, 1941)...Also became the third Reds reliever since 1901 with two scoreless outings of at least 4.1 innings pitched and fewer than two hits allowed in a season, joining Riddle (1941) and Jakie May (1926)...He (4.1 IP) and Carson Spiers (3.1 IP) in that game, a 4-1 victory, became the first pair of Reds relievers to each pitch 3.1+ innings in the same game since Scott Williamson (3.1 IP) and Andy Larkin (4 IP) did so in a 14-3 loss on 7/4/00 at STL...On 8/2 vs. SF recorded his 500th career strikeout (Heliot Ramos) in his final relief appearance...On 8/5 at MIA pitched five scoreless innings in his first start since 5/22 vs. SD...On 8/10 at MIL equaled his career-high with seven scoreless innings (also: 4/19/23 for SD vs. ATL; 4/9/15 for TEX at OAK), a mark that was again matched on 9/9 at ATL...Became just the third Reds starting pitcher since 1901 with 5.0 scoreless innings and no walks issued or no extra-base hits allowed in back-to-back starts, joining Hunter Greene (8/1-9/17-G1, 2022) and Mario Soto (5/26-5/31, 1982)...Also became just the seventh Reds starting pitcher since 1901 with 7.0+ scoreless innings, one hit or fewer allowed, no walks, and 7+ strikeouts in a start, the first since Greene (7 IP, 1 H, 8 K) in his rain-shortened complete game on 6/6/22 vs. AZ...On 9/4 vs. HOU threw a season-high 107 pitches, tied for fifth-most in an outing in his Major League career (also: 6/26/15 for TEX at TOR) and his most since 7/4/16 for TEX at BOS (108 pitches)...On 9/9 at ATL made his 100th Major League start...On 9/20 vs. PIT tied his career-high with nine strikeouts (also: 6/11/22-G1 for SD vs. COL)...That game also marked his second appearance of six-plus scoreless innings, two hits or fewer and no walks (also: 8/10 at MIL), tying Hunter Greene (2022) and Gary Nolan (1972) for the most-such outings by a Reds pitcher in a season since 1901...From 9/9 at ATL to 9/20 vs. PIT became the first Reds pitcher since 1901 with six-plus innings, one run or fewer, three hits or fewer, and one walk or fewer in three consecutive starts...On 9/27 at CHC pitched his first career complete game (8.0 IP, 5 H, 1R/1ER, 3 K) in a 1-0 loss...Was the first complete game by a Reds pitcher in a loss since Homer Bailey on 7/31/18 at DET...Was the first complete game by a Redlegs pitcher since Hunter Greene on 6/6/22 vs. AZ and the first of at least 8.0 innings since Wade Miley's no-hitter (9 IP) on 5/7/21 at CLE...In four consecutive starts from 9/9 at ATL to 9/27 at CHC, to close the campaign, pitched at least six innings while allowing one run or fewer and one walk or fewer, the longest-such streak within a single season by any Reds pitcher since 1890...In his 16 starts with the Reds (3/31 vs. WSH to 9/27 at CHC) issued 12 walks, the fewest by any CIN pitcher in his first 16 starts with the team since 1893.
2023
Led SD with a career-high 63 appearances...also had career bests in strikeouts (106), WHIP (1.26) and ERA (3.43)…Posted ERAs of 2.32 in his nine starts and 4.12 in 54 relief appearances...Didn't allow a run in any of his last six starts covering 25.0 innings...In his last nine appearances of the season overall, beginning 8/29 and including three starts, posted a 0.45 ERA...was the lowest ERA of any pitcher in the Major Leagues in that span (minimum 20ip)…His hard-hit ball percentage of 29.9 was fourth-lowest in the Major Leagues and the lowest by any right-handed pitcher (200 batted ball events minimum)…Opponents' exit velocity of 84.7 was the lowest of any Padres pitcher in the StatCast era...Made one start for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, suffered an 11-5 loss vs Mexico.
2022
In his first Major League season since 2017 with Texas, he converted eight of his nine save opportunities and collected eight holds while also making 10 starts...he’s the only pitcher in MLB history to have 4+ holds and 8+ saves while also making 10+ starts in a single campaign....Made 47 appearances on the season, and opened the campaign as SD’s No. 5 starter, with all 10 of his starts coming in his first 12 app. from April 11-June 18…made 35 consecutive relief outings from June 22 through the end of the regular season....He was scoreless in 25 of his 37 relief outings, posting a 2.67 ERA and .209 opp. AVG...was 2-3 with a 4.30 ERA in his 10 starts, including two quality outings (May 5 vs. MIA and May 30 @ STL)....After returning from the paternity list following the birth of his daughter, Stella, on Aug. 1, he posted a career-long 15.0 scoreless-inning streak from Aug. 1 to Aug. 29 across 11 appearances...it was the second-longest streak among all SD relievers in ‘22, trailing only Tim Hill (18.2 scoreless IP from July 9-Sept 6)....Improved to 8-for-8 in save opportunities on August 30 @ SF, converting saves in four straight appearances from Aug. 21-30....Blew his first career save on Sept 22 vs. STL, surrendering a grand slam to Brendan Donovan in the seventh inning...it was the start of him allowing a run in three straight relief outings for the first time in his career from Sept 22-27, but he finished the season scoreless and allowed just one hit across his final four outings from Sept. 28-Oct. 4. ...STL’s Brendan Donovan’s grand slam on Sept. 22 was one of only three home runs Martinez gave up in his 28 second half appearances after allowing 12 HR in his 19 first half outings....He induced 13 ground ball double plays, tied with Joe Musgrove for most among the SD pitching corps…his 1.10 GIDP/9 IP ratio was the T-11th highest ratio in the Majors and T-7th highest in the NL ...Per Statcast, he relied on five pitches: 4-Seam Fastball (26.3%), Changeup (25.5%), Cutter (17.7%), Curveball (15.9%), Sinker (14.6%)…opponents hit just .155 (17-for-110) vs. his changeup but .351 (40-for-114) vs. his 4-seamer.
POSTSEASON: Made his Postseason debut in 2022…was tagged with the loss in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series vs. NYM on Oct. 8 in relief of Blake Snell, allowing a solo HR to Pete Alonso in the fifth inning....Went on to post 8.1 consecutive-scoreless innings across his 6 NLDS and NLCS appearances vs. LAD and PHI…allowed just two hits (.074 AVG) in the NLDS and NLCS with 11 strikeouts and 0 walks (0.24 WHIP)....Pitched in Games 1 through 3 of the NLDS vs. LAD...retired all 3 batters he faced on 11 pitches in the 8th inning of Game 1 in SD’s 5-3 defeat on Oct. 11…earned his first career Postseason hold the next night on Oct. 12 in the eighth inning of Game 2 (0.2 IP, H) before Josh Hader came in to secure the 4-out save in SD’s 5-3 victory…relieved Blake Snell in the sixth inning of Game 3 on Oct. 14 and stranded the inherited runner for his second consecutive hold in SD’s 2-1 victory....Pitched in Games 1, 2 and 4 of the NLCS vs. PHI…relieved Yu Darvish in the eighth inning of SD’s 2-0, Game 1 defeat on Oct. 18, retiring all 3 batters he faced on three pitches (10 strikes)…relieved Blake Snell with 2.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball in the sixth and seventh innings of SD’s 8-5, Game 2 victory on Oct. 19, earning his third hold of the Postseason…in SD’s 10-6 defeat in Game 4 on Oct. 22, he became the first reliever in Padres’ franchise Postseason history to throw 3.0+ IP without allowing a hit after starter Mike Clevinger failed to record an out.
2021
Pitched for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, going 10-5 with a 1.62 ERA (27 ER, 149.2 IP), 1.03 WHIP and 146 strikeouts to 39 walks (3.74 SO/BB ratio) in 23 games... He finished first on the club in strikeouts and second in innings pitched... Also won a silver medal this past summer with Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, going 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA (2 ER, 11.0 IP) in two appearances during the tournament, including a start in the gold medal game vs. Japan (1 ER, 6.0 IP).
2018-20
In his second season with the Nippon-Ham Fighters of NPB in 2020, he pitched in 17 games, going 2-7 with one save, one hold, a 4.62 ERA (39 ER, 76.0 IP) and 66 strikeouts against 40 walks....missed the first half of 2020 and all of 2019 due to injury...started 25 games for the Ham Fighters in 2018, going 10-11 with three complete games and a 3.51 ERA (63 ER, 161.2 IP) and 93 SO against 40 walks.
2017
Split the season between TEX and Round Rock (AAA)... was recalled to the big league squad four times throughout the season...Began the season with RR, where he went 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA across seven appearances (six starts) with a 2.15 ERA (9 ER, 37.2 IP) with a .194 AVG...Nine of his ER with RR came in back-to-back starts (April 17 and then July 9)...was scoreless in his other five outings (four starts) and 29.0 IP...Made 23 appearances (18 starts) for TEX, going 3-8 with a 5.66 ERA (70 ER, 111.1 IP) and 67 SO against 28 walks... surrendered 26 HR (2.10 HR/9 IP)...The Rangers non-tendered his contract in December, making him a free agent.
2016
Went 2-3 with a 5.59 ERA (24 ER/38.2 IP) over 12 games/5 starts in 5 stints with the Rangers (4/16-24, 6/14- 7/8, 7/26-27, 8/17-21, 9/2-end of season)…optioned to Round Rock on 3/29…recalled on 4/16 had one relief appearance for the club, loading the bases on a pair of walks and a HBP and surrendering a walk-off single in a 4-3, 11-inning loss on 4/23 at CWS…returned to Texas on 6/14 and worked 2.1 scoreless innings on 6/15 at OAK prior to joining the rotation…moved into the rotation on 6/18 at STL in place of the injured Yu Darvish and went 0-1, 6.86 (15 ER/19.2 IP) in 4 starts…was optioned to Double-A Frisco following Rangers game on 7/8 despite being scheduled to start for Texas the following day (Kyle Lohse would have contract purchased and make start for Texas on 7/9 vs. MIN)…made one more start for Texas in a 6-3 loss on 7/26 vs. OAK (4.0 IP, 5 R) in place on Lohse, who was designated for assignment on 7/25...had one relief outing in 4th stint with club on 8/20 at TB (1.1 IP, 1 R)…recalled upon conclusion of Round Rock's season and spent September in the bullpen, going 1-0, 1.64 (2 ER/11.0 IP) in 4 appearances.
2015
Had four stints with Texas (Opening Day-July 1, July 20-Aug.12, Aug. 27 and Sept. 7-end of season)…ranked among the staff leaders in innings (third, 125.0), starts (third, 21), and quality starts (second, 13) despite five starts after the All-Star break and none after Aug.13… was not on the club's ALDS roster, but was sent to Arizona for workouts to stay fresh in the event he was needed as an injury replacement.
2014
A surprise addition to the opening day rotation at the end of spring training, ranked 2nd on the club in starts (2nd, 24), innings (3rd, 140.1), and strikeouts (3rd, 77)...was among A.L. rookie leaders in starts (6th) and innings (6th)...tied for 8th in A.L. in losses (12)...became just the 9th rookie in Rangers history with 24 or more starts in a season, the 4th in the last 25 seasons (see charts on right)...was 5-11, 4.90 (70 ER/128.2 IP) in 24 starts and 0-1, 0.77 (1 ER/11.2 IP) in 5 relief appearances...was 1-7, 5.24 at home and 4-5, 4.09 on the road, losing 1st 6 Arlington decisions before win on 9/23 vs. HOU...opponents batted .275, .279 vs. LHB and .271 vs. RHB.
2013
Combined to go 12-7, 2.50 (42 ER/151.1 IP) over 27 games/25 starts with Myrtle Beach (High-A) and Frisco...compiled the 14th-lowest ERA (2.50) and 16th-lowest WHIP (1.07) among all full season minor league pitchers...led Myrtle Beach staff in wins (10) and was 2nd in starts (21-tied), innings (119.1) and strikeouts (105)...was a Carolina League mid-season All-Star...completed at least 5.0 innings in 19 of 21 starts with the Pelicans, going 3-1, 1.57 in final 4 outings...was promoted to Frisco on 8/6 and worked at least 6.0 innings and allowed one ER-or-less in each of his 5 appearances with the RoughRiders...tossed 7.0 no-hit innings of relief on 8/27 vs. Corpus Christi...was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August/September, going 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA in 6 games/5 starts.
2012
Topped Hickory (Low-A) staff in strikeouts (109) and ranked 2nd in starts (20-tied), wins (8), and innings (117.1) in 1st full pro season...selected to the South Division squad for the South Atlantic League All-Star Game...was 1-0, 3.63 in 11 relief appearances and 7-6, 5.12 in 20 starts...opened campaign in bullpen before joining rotation on 5/21.
2011
Split year between AZL Rangers (Rookie) and Spokane (Short Season A), going 3-3 2.30 in 15 games/11 starts in 1st season as a fulltime pitcher...started with the AZL Rangers and was promoted to Spokane on 7/23...joined Indians rotation on 8/3 and went 1-2 2.70 ERA over 7 starts.
