The Blue Jays optioned Martinez to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.
Martinez missed a few days of spring training after he was hit by a fastball on the hip Monday. He was able to return to action Thursday and log an at-bat. The infielder has been slashing .320/.393/.480 with a home run across 28 plate appearances in Grapefruit League play. At Triple-A Buffalo, the 23-year-old will play every day and wait for his next chance to prove himself in the big leagues.
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Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Suffers bruised hip Monday
Rotowire
Martinez was removed from Monday's 4-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Phillies in the top of the seventh inning due to a left hip contusion, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Martinez is considered day-to-day after suffering the injury when he was hit by a 96-mile-per-hour fastball in his lone plate appearance of the day. The 23-year-old infielder is unlikely to be included on Toronto's Opening Day roster and is expected to begin the season as an everyday player at Triple-A Buffalo.
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Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Goes yard in spring opener
Rotowire
Martinez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
Hitting ninth as the DH, Martinez launched a fourth-inning offering from Brandon Leibrandt over the fence in right-center field. Martinez could win a spot on the Opening Day roster with a big camp and even take over the starting job at third base, but it's his glovework and not his bat that will determine how quickly he's entrusted with those duties. The fact that he was used as the DH in the Blue Jays' spring opener, while Ernie Clement got the start at the hot corner, is a sign of how much the 23-year-old slugger needs to do on the defensive side to earn that opportunity.
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Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: In mix for third-base job
Rotowire
Martinez will get a real chance in camp to win a spot on the 26-man roster and could push for the starting job at third base, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Ernie Clement is the nominal favorite to be in the Opening Day lineup at the hot corner, but Martinez is the player that offers the most upside at the position for the Blue Jays. The 23-year-old is coming off a bumpy 2024 campaign that included an 80-game suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drugs policy, but over 74 games at Triple-A Buffalo he slashed .267/.346/.523 with 17 homers. Martinez's most likely route to the Opening Day roster is on the bench, bouncing between second base and third base in a short-side platoon role, but the young slugger could quickly force his way into a more prominent spot if he begins flashing his power in the majors and can provide at least adequate defense at third.
Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Returns from suspension, optioned
Rotowire
The Blue Jays reinstated Martinez from his 80-game suspension Monday and optioned him to the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Martinez was handed an 80-game ban in June for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drugs policy and began a rehab assignment Sept. 6 at Triple-A Buffalo. With Buffalo's season ending Sunday and the Blue Jays not eager to open up a spot for him on the active roster for the final week of the season, Martinez will head to Toronto's spring training complex in Florida for additional work. Despite the suspension presenting a bump in the road in his development, the 22-year-old performed well in 74 games at Triple-A Buffalo this season, batting .267 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI. Martinez should get every opportunity in the spring to compete for a spot on Toronto's Opening Day roster.
Blue Jays' Orelvis Martinez: Resumes playing in minors
Rotowire
Martinez (suspension) began a minor-league assignment Sept. 6 with Triple-A Buffalo and has gone 7-for-24 with a home run, a triple, three doubles, three walks, three RBI and three runs through his first six games.
Martinez was eligible to begin the assignment 15 days before he's eligible to be reinstated from his 80-game suspension Monday. After receiving a promotion from Triple-A, Martinez made his MLB debut June 21 but was suspended two days later for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy. According to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca, Martinez won't return to the Blue Jays' 28-man active roster this season, so expect Toronto to add him back to the 40-man roster but immediately option him to Triple-A once his suspension lapses.
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