# Shairon Martis

Shairon Benjamin Martis (born March 30, 1987) is a Dutch-Curaçaoan professional baseball pitcher for Curaçao Neptunus of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions. Martis was a member of the Netherlands in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the 2013 World Baseball Classic, as well as the 2011 Baseball World Cup. He played for Team Netherlands in the 2019 European Baseball Championship, at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament in Italy in September 2019.

## Amateur and international career

In 2002, Martis was a member of the Curaçao team that claimed the Senior League World Series, which took place in Bangor, Maine.
Martis pitched a no-hitter on March 10, 2006, in the World Baseball Classic against Panama, in a game stopped in the 7th inning due to the mercy rule.
He played for Team Netherlands in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
He played for Team Netherlands in the 2019 European Baseball Championship, and will compete for it at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament, taking place in Italy beginning September 18, 2019. He represented the Netherlands national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

## Professional career
### San Francisco Giants

Martis was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2004. In 2005, he pitched in 11 games with 5 starts. His record was 2–1 with a 1.85 ERA for the San Francisco Giants' Arizona Rookie League team. Martis began the 2006 season with Augusta in the Low A South Atlantic League, where he accrued a 6–4 record and 3.64 ERA in 15 starts. On July 28, 2006, Martis was traded to the Washington Nationals for veteran lefty reliever Mike Stanton.

### Washington Nationals

On July 28, 2006, the Nationals acquired Martis from the San Francisco Giants for veteran lefty reliever Mike Stanton. He joined the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League on August 1. After going 1–1 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts at Savannah, Martis was promoted to the High-A Potomac Nationals. He pitched two games in Potomac, giving up 4 earned runs in 12 innings. He ended the season with one appearance for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, allowing 7 runs in 5 innings.
In 2007, Martis pitched for Potomac the entire season. In 26 starts and one relief appearance, he logged a 4.23 ERA over 151 innings, striking out 108 batters while issuing 52 walks.
Martis started the 2008 in Harrisburg. After going 4–4 with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 14 starts, he was promoted on June 21 to Triple-A Columbus, where he went 1–2 with a 3.02 ERA in 7 starts, striking out 42 batters and walking 17. He was selected as a member of the World Team for the 2008 All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium.
Martis was called up to the Nationals on September 2, with the intent of assigning him to the bullpen. However, an injury to starter Collin Balester opened a spot for Martis in the starting rotation. He made his major league debut September 4, 2008, against the Atlanta Braves. He gave up 2 runs in 5 innings, earning the loss. He struck out the first batter he faced, Gregor Blanco. Chipper Jones got the first hit off Martis. In his first plate appearance, he drew a walk from Braves rookie James Parr, who, like Martis, was also making his first major-league appearance. Martis struck out Parr in Parr's first at-bat earlier in the game. Martis got his first major league win on September 23, 2008, against the Florida Marlins.
On May 2, 2009, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Martis pitched his first career complete game, which was the Nationals' first complete game since Pedro Astacio's in 2006 against the Atlanta Braves.
Martis was designated for assignment on January 24, 2011. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse on February 2. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.

### Pittsburgh Pirates

On November 23, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

### Minnesota Twins

On June 27, 2012, Martis was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash or a player to be named later. He had his contract selected to the major league roster on September 9, 2013, In 9.2 innings he struck out 7, working to a 5.59 ERA. He was sent outright to Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on October 2. He elected free agency following the season on October 7.

### Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions

On February 26, 2014, Martis signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He became a free agent following the season.

### Bridgeport Bluefish

On May 20, 2015, Martis signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He made one start for the Bluefish, taking the loss after allowing eight earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout over 2⁄3 of an inning. Martis was released by the team on June 1.

### Lincoln Saltdogs

On June 6, 2015, Martis signed with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 17 games (16 starts) for Lincoln, he compiled a 6–3 record and 3.74 ERA with 79 strikeouts across 106 innings pitched. Martis became a free agent following the season.
On February 15, 2016, Martis re-signed with the Saltdogs. In 24 games (18 starts), he registered a 9–8 record and 3.34 ERA with 93 strikeouts over 121+1⁄3 innings pitched. Martis became a free agent after the season.

### Baltimore Orioles

On April 6, 2017, Martis signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. In 8 games for the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, he recorded a 4.38 ERA with 8 strikeouts across 12+1⁄3 innings pitched. Martis was released by the Orioles organization on July 24.

### Lincoln Saltdogs (second stint)

On July 27, 2017, Martis re-signed with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association. In 7 games (6 starts), he threw 40.1 innings and posted a 4–1 with a 2.01 ERA and 32 strikeouts.
On February 17, 2018, Martis re-signed with the Saltdogs. In 25 games (2 starts), he accumulated a 3–5 record and 5.01 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 41+1⁄3 innings of work.
On February 14, 2019, Martis re-signed with the Saltdogs. In 22 games (9 starts) for Lincoln, he struggled to a 2–7 record and 6.44 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 2 saves across 65+2⁄3 innings pitched. Martis was released by the Saltdogs on November 19.

### L&D Amsterdam

On February 23, 2020, Martis signed with L&D Amsterdam of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse. In 11 games for the team, he recorded a 2.63 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 1 save across 13+2⁄3 innings of relief.
On February 25, 2021, Martis re-signed with Amsterdam. In 11 games (7 starts), he posted a 6–0 record with a 0.91 ERA with 51 strikeouts over 49+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On February 11, 2022, Martis re-signed with Amsterdam for a third consecutive season. In 17 games (8 starts) for Amsterdam, he compiled a 6–1 record and 1.22 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 3 saves across 73+2⁄3 innings of work. Martis became a free agent after the season.

### Curaçao Neptunus

On March 7, 2023, Martis signed with the Curaçao Neptunus of the Honkbal Hoofdklasse. In 17 starts for the team, he compiled an 8–3 record and 2.12 ERA with 88 strikeouts across 101+2⁄3 innings pitched.