Billy Martinez

### Former Teams

Dallas Rangers (2000-2003)Detroit Titans (2004)Miami Sunbirds (2004-2011)Chicago Cyclones (2011)Philadelphia Freedom (2012)

## Career

### WHIP

1.02

​Billy Martinez (born November 4, 1973), is an American former professional baseball closer. He played 13 seasons in the American Baseball Association for the various teams, but most notably the Miami Sunbirds and Dallas Rangers. He amassed a 27-12 record with 106 saves in 245 relief appearances with a 2.05 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and 393 strikeouts over 302 innings. He is a 2-time ABA Champion, 4-time ABA Reliever of the Year and one time ABA Pitcher of the Year. His number 6 is retired by the Miami Sunbirds.

## Professional Career

### Dallas Rangers (2000-2003)

In the Inaugural ABA Draft, Martinez was selected in the 11th round by the Dallas Rangers. He was known as a pitcher with great stuff, but average control, which made him unpredictable on the mound, but who could get a lot of strikeouts. He had a good debut season in 2000, but nothing to write home about. He was a perfect 16 in 16 in saves opportunities in 21 relief appearances, but didn't have as many strikeouts as expected.

He was relegated to the bullpen by the Rangers over veteran Matt Clary for the closer spot, but he didn't adapt very well to his new role as a fireman who was sent out in incredibly high leverage situation. He was used in the same role, but more sporadingly by the Rangers in 2002 and didn't collect a single save.

With Martinez being a pending free agent in 2003, he went out there to impress as the Rangers struggled with their bullpen management. He led the league in relief appearances and had a 4-0 record with 8 saves and a crazy good 0.50 WHIP. He then won the ABA Reliever of the Year Award. Martinez wanted to be the real closer of a team and opted for free agency.

### Detroit Titans (2004)

Martinez signed a two-year deal with the Miami Sunbirds in 2004, but was left exposed in the expansion draft. He was selected in the third round by the Titans, expected to be their star closer. The season didn't go really well for the Titans and while Martinez was decent, he didn't have many saves opportunities and his numbers were down from what they used to be.

### Miami Sunbirds (2004-2011)

Miami really wanted to get their hands on Martinez, planning to use him as their closer and acquired him from the Titans for shortstop prospect Josh Altier and pitching prospects Roberto Huertas and Shane Burke. Martinez would have one weird appearance with the Sunbirds in 2004, starting a game in a double-programme and winning it in 6.2 innings. He'd get hit by the ball and was pulled out of the game and he missed the rest of the season.

Starting in 2005, Martinez was named the team's closer, leading the league in relief appearances and saves with 18, a league record at that time. He was even more dominant in 2006, lowering his ERA and getting even more wins with a 6-1 record and 10 saves. Martinez's usage was really varied in 2006 and award voters couldn't overlook his contribution and was selected as the ABA Pitcher of the Year in 2006. He also won back-to-back Reliever of the Year awards in 2005 and 2006.

Starting in 2007, Martinez hit a wall, not able to replicate his success of the past couple of years. Despite his struggles, he still signed contract extensions with the Sunbirds that were determined to keep him on board, as he was a much appreciated player in the dugout.

After two years of struggles, Martinez lost the closer role in 2010 and it looks like it gave him just enough motivation to look like the Billy Martinez of the good old days. He was then named the closer for the Sunbirds in 2011 where he continued his great work, allowing only one run in 27.2 innings, but his strikeout numbers were significantly down.

### Chicago Cyclones (2011)

With Miami giving up on their playoff hopes, Martinez was shipped to Chicago for left fielder prospect Andy Parks and infielder prospect J.P. Holle. Martinez was used as a specialist by the Cyclones and only threw one inning in 3 relief appearances, retiring all three batters. Due to his good work in 2011, Martinez was awarded his fourth ABA Reliever of the Year Award. Martinez wasn't offered a contract by the Cyclones, concerned about his advanced age and his diminishing strikeout numbers.

### Philadelphia Freedom (2012)

Looking for a good arm in the bullpen, Martinez was signed to a lucrative two-year deal by the Freedom, but he failed to convince the team during Spring Training. He was used a specialist by the Freedom, to moderate success and after he injured his elbow, he asked for his release, that was granted by the Freedom.

## Retirement

Following his release by the Freedom, Martinez retired from professional baseball, after realising he was getting too old and wasn't as good as before. His number 6 was retired by the Miami Sunbirds as he held several reliever records for the team at the time of his retirement and was very much appreciated in the organization.

### Hall of Fame

Martinez chose to represent the Sunbirds in his Hall of Fame bid. Experts had mixed opinions about his Hall of Fame case, saying Martinez was dominant when he was one, but was pretty bad when he was off.

#### Voting History

2015 : 70.8%

2016 : 62.2%

2017: 69.5%

2018: 62.7%

2019: 74.1%

2020: 66.5%

## Managerial Career (2015-

Martinez's love for the game of baseball was just too big to ignore and he decided to join the coaching staff of the Bristol Pirates in the English Baseball Association, an expansion team. Acting as a bench coach, he's appreciated by the players and helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time in the 2019 season.

## Awards

1X ABA Pitcher of the Year (2006)

4X ABA Reliever of the Year (2003, 2005, 2006, 2011)

2X ABA Champion (2005, 2006)