Nicholas Andres Martinez…married the former Kimberly Cobian on 11/21/15…played three seasons at Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y.…was primarily as a second baseman with a .295 career average, four HR, and 66 RBI with the Rams…appeared in 15 games in relief, going 1-3, 5.33…batted .292 and led team in runs (46), walks (37), and OBP (.404) in 2011… also appeared in 10 games in relief that season…was the first Fordham player to appear in the majors since RHP Pete Harnisch in 2001…played baseball at Belen Jesuit Prep in Miami, Fla. (graduated 2008).
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.