CLEVELAND -- The painful reaction that came across Angel Martínez’s face in the seventh inning on Monday proved to be a foreboding sign, after the outfielder exited the Guardians’ 7-3 loss to the White Sox in the series opener with an apparent injury.
Martínez came to the plate in the seventh inning Monday and had an awkward-looking swing on the first pitch of his at-bat against left-hander Hagen Smith. He winced in discomfort, and manager Stephen Vogt and a trainer came out to check on him.
Martínez stayed in the game, but he struck out after whiffing on the next two pitches. Daniel Schneemann then replaced him in the outfield in the top of the eighth.
Martínez has had a career year for the Guardians and has been a stabilizer in the outfield mix this season. The 24-year-old is slashing .248/.285/.443 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs in 106 games this season. His .728 OPS would mark a new career high and a 100-point improvement from 2025.