by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/23/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez has been thriving at the plate since being named the everyday left fielder. Martinez is batting .345 (10 for 29) with two home runs, four doubles and seven RBI in his last nine games (eight starts).
"I'm feeling good," he said, per MLB.com. "I feel like I've been hitting the ball hard, not just (Wednesday) but the last couple of series. I feel like I'm going up there with my plan and approach and I'm not changing it within my at-bat and constantly changing plans like I feel like I have in the past."
J.D. Martinez powers Astros to win
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/23/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez continued to turn his season around Wednesday against the Royals, as he hit his fourth home run in a 3-1 win.
Martinez went 2 for 4 with a two-run home run in the first-inning for his second multi-hit game in as many nights. He finished with two RBI and a run scored.
He is batting .255 since being recalled from Triple-A at the beginning of May, with two home runs and seven RBI in 13 games.
J.D. Martinez hits first homer since recall
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez homered in the club's 7-5 victory Wednesday against Detroit.
It was Martinez's first home run since returning from the minor leagues May 7. Martinez is struggling with strikeouts -- he has eight in 24 at-bats since the return -- but the power has been there. He has four doubles to go with the home run.
Martinez is hitting .246/.274/.478 this season.
Bo Porter names three everyday outfielders
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Astros manager Bo Porter said J.D. Martinez, Robbie Grossman and Jimmy Paredes will be the team's regular three starters in the outfield, MLB.com reports. Porter had been rotating Trevor Crowe and Brandon Barnes in the outfield over the past few weeks.
"They're going to get the bulk of the playing time," Porter said, "so that I, as a manager, can make a definitive decision as a manager to answer the question: Can this guy or can that guy play every day at the Major League level?"
J.D. Martinez worth a look in AL-only
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/6/2013)J.D. Martinez is likely headed back to the Astros Monday, and even though he has a .244 average on the season, he could be a nice surprise going forward.
Martinez had two home runs and a steal in 32 at-bats this season, and most of his production came in the nine games before he went on the DL. Martinez has a stellar minor-league track record, with a .333 average and .928 OPS in 1,228 at-bats. In each of his three minor-league seasons before starting 2012 with the Astros, Martinez hit double-digits in home runs and averaged 30 doubles despite getting more than 350 at-bats just once.
While his major-league career so far has been somewhat nondescript, Martinez has the skill to make an impact in batting average, with a double-digit flirtation in home runs. Owned in 4 percent of leagues, he should at least be considered for a fourth or fifth outfield spot in AL-only format.
J.D. Martinez coming back to Houston
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/6/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez is headed back to Houston.
Martinez was slated to start Monday's Double-A game in Corpus Christi, but was scratched about 30 minutes prior to the game. In 45 at-bats this season, Martinez is hitting .244/.271/.444.
Astros place J.D. Martinez on 15-day DL
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) The Astros announced Saturday that outfielder J.D. Martinez, who left Friday's game with a sprained right knee, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Martinez homered Friday before being replaced, leaving him with a .244/.271/.444 line and two home runs in 48 plate appearances.
J.D. Martinez dealing with knee sprain
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (4/19/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez was forced to leave Friday's series opener against the Indians with a right knee sprain. Martinez's right knee buckled when he attempted to check his swing on a pitch from Brett Myers in the fourth inning.
He immediately dropped to the ground and was taken off the field by team trainers.
Martinez, who was replaced in the lineup by Brandon Barnes, had a two-run home run off Myers in his first at-bat against the right-hander.
He is batting .244 and is day-to-day.
Time to grab J.D. Martinez
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/11/2013)J.D. Martinez started this season in the minors and was pulled from a game earlier this week when he swung at a pitch too early in the count. Yet he's started five straight games for the Astros, with one home run and a .273 batting average on the year.
And if you just look at Martinez' last five games, he's even more attractive, with a .316 average, .826 OPS, home run, and five RBI during that span.
Martinez was a hot add last year, before fizzling in early May, being optioned back to the minors and eventually finsihing the year with a .241 average. But he has a stellar track record in four minor-league seasons (a career .334 average and .929 OPS with 43 home runs and 95 doubles in 321 games) and looks like he's a starter in the wide-open Houston outfield.
I wouldn't overreact to Martinez, but in a 16-team Roto league, he could make for a decent fifth outfielder -- high average with some minor power potential and RBI hope -- at a cheap price, especially this early in the season.
Owned in just three percent of leagues, Martinez should at least be grabbed in most AL-only formats.
J.D. Martinez finally has buzzworthy game
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez had his best game of the season Tuesday at Seattle. Martinez homered and drove in three runs in a 16-9 win.
He also scored twice. Martinez is batting .263 (5 for 19) with one home run, three RBI and six strikeouts in seven games.
J.D. Martinez remains in lineup for Astros
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/9/2013) After being pulled from the contest Monday due to what he called a "mental mistake," Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez was back in the lineup Tuesday against the Mariners.
"Like I said yesterday to you guys, I understood the situation and we talked about it and put it behind us," Martinez said. "We still have a lot more games left to play and it’s behind us and we’re ready to move forward. Today’s a new day."
Martinez has gone 3 for 13 (.231) through six games.
J.D. Martinez pulled after mistake
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/9/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez was taken out of Monday's game after making a mental error at the plate.
Martinez admitted after the game that he did not follow the club's game strategy, swinging at the first pitch he saw. Martinez has been playing while Fernando Martinez is on the disabled list.
J.D. Martinez bats cleanup for Astros
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/9/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez hit cleanup Monday night in Seattle. He hit in the four hole 32 times last year, reports MLB.com.
"I've always considered myself a heart-of-the-order-type hitter," he said. "I've always been that since the first time they put me in when I first got called up. I played one game in the six-hole and the next day I was in the three-hole or four-hole. I'm comfortable hitting here. I like it more because there's guys on base more. You're in more of an RBI spot and a pressure spot."
Martinez entered Monday's game having gone 3 for 8 in his first two starts after starting the year 0 for 3 as a reserve in Houston's first three games.
J.D. Martinez scores a run in loss
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/7/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez got the start in left field Sunday in a home game against the Athletics. He hit third in the order and had a base hit.
Martinez went 1 for 4 with a run scored in the 9-3 loss. The 25-year-old, who has started the last two games, has gone 3 for 8 without an RBI. He's hitting .273 in 11 at-bats.
Astros bring back J.D. Martinez
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/30/2013) The Astros recalled J.D. Martinez from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday to fill the roster spot vacated by Fernando Martinez's move to the disabled list. Martinez was shipped to the minors last week after hitting .286 with four extra-base hits during 19 games this spring.
Astros option J.D. Martinez to Triple-A
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (3/24/2013) The Astros have sent outfielder J.D. Martinez down to Triple-A, CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler reports.
Martinez, 25, struggled mightily in 2012, as he hit just .241/.311/.375 (86 OPS+) after he posted a sharp 104 OPS+ in his rookie year of 2011. The Astros expressed a desire for the outfielder to hit every day. The Astros starting outfield will likely be Chris Carter in left field, Justin Maxwell in center field and Fernando Martinez in right field.
Martinez to play in right field
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/27/2013) MLB.com reports Astros manager Bo Porter said Wednesday he intends to play outfielder J.D. Martinez in right field this spring. Martinez doesn't have much experience in the majors playing right field, but he saw enough time in the minors playing the position. "He played a lot of right field coming up and he has a strong arm," Porter said. The Astros need Martinez to increase his versatility with Chris Carter getting every chance to win the starting left field job. "It's something we're going to look at early on in camp and make sure that it's comfortable," Porter said of Martinez. "It gives us other options as far as lineup construction when you face that tough lefty and run three guys out there who can change the game in one swing."
Martinez jumps into spring action
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/23/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez finished 1 for 2 with a single and a run scored during Houston's 8-3 victory over Philadelphia in a Grapefruit League matchup Saturday. Martinez served as the starting left fielder and slotted fifth in the batting order as he prepares for his third major-league season. After being limited to just 113 games last year because of a hand injury, he is competing for a starting job to begin the regular season.
Martinez jumps into spring action
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/23/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez finished 1 for 2 with a single and a run scored during Houston's 8-3 victory over Philadelphia in a Grapefruit League matchup Saturday. Martinez served as the starting left fielder and slotted fifth in the batting order as he prepares for his third major-league season. After being limited to just 113 games last year because of a hand injury, he is competing for a starting job to begin the regular season.
Martinez jumps into spring action
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/23/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez finished 1 for 2 with a single and a run scored during Houston's 8-3 victory over Philadelphia in a Grapefruit League matchup Saturday. Martinez served as the starting left fielder and slotted fifth in the batting order as he prepares for his third major-league season. After being limited to just 113 games last year because of a hand injury, he is competing for a starting job to begin the regular season.
Martinez coming to grips with bat
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/18/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez said he is working on a new batting grip that has alleviated tension on his left hand and should keep him healthy during spring training. Martinez started choking up slightly above the barrel of the bat after having surgery last season to remove the hamate bone in his left hand, an injury that was caused by the bat digging into his palm. "At the beginning, it was weird," he told MLB.com on Monday. "I was kind of resistant to it. I felt a relief when I did it, though. The next day wasn't as sore. That's probably it. I started doing it and once you start swinging, you get used to it."
Martinez feels he'll be ready
(1/25/2013) Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez told MLB.com on Friday that while he has yet to starting swinging a bat again, he feels he'll be ready when spring training rolls around. Martinez underwent surgery to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand in September. "I really haven't been able to swing that much yet, but I feel like it's right there and really close," he said. "I'm trying to rest it as much as I can now because I know when spring training starts, it's going to be non-stop. I feel like I'll be ready and it will be strong enough for me to do what I have to do."
