[Nestico] Orelvis Martinez will be fighting for a roster spot in Toronto’s crowded infield this Spring He would quickly become one of Toronto best power bats and add much needed oomph to their lineup
December 18, 2024
[Nestico] Orelvis Martinez will be fighting for a roster spot in Toronto’s crowded infield this Spring He would quickly become one of Toronto best power bats and add much needed oomph to their lineup
25 comments
As long as he can avoid getting popped for fertility treatments again, I’m in!
Amazing. This is the pivot we’ve all been waiting for…
IMO he’s the wildcard for this upcoming season. I don’t believe his power came simply from trying to make a baby (but like check with the team doctors next time), but even without a defensive position we could probably find a spot for him with the way his Bat looks like it will play in the majors.
I hope so. They definitely need to see his bat vs MLB pitching. Having a guy with some pop near the bottom of the order is good tho.
While the sample size was small it was encouraging that post suspension he was still hitting the ball hard and most scouts absolutely believe the power is real and not steroid driven.
I think even with the horrid defence he will battle for a spot in Spring Training at 3B with Barger. 2B & SS are obviously locked up. If he does make the team then Clement can be his defensive substitution in every game.
I do wonder if you just go the Alvarez route with him at some point and make him a DH.
It’s a massive shame that Orelvis earned himself a PED suspension as last season would have been the perfect opportunity for him to get his feet wet against MLB pitching in a lower pressure environment. I don’t particularly think that the drug Clomiphene was likely a huge factor in his high end bat speed (21st in MLB) but we’ll get a more complete picture this upcoming season.
His biggest issue will be his whiff rate, if he keeps it close to league average or at least no more than 30%, then he’ll be super productive for us, but if it’s >40%, it won’t be long until he’s back in AAA.
Ah, so we’re going with relying in “internal improvement” again. Worked out so well last year. Guys on First Up this morning have it right…our management is building an 85 win team hoping to squeak in and be wild card fodder again, not a division winner.
That being said, if he *starts* to tap into that potential this year he could be a very viable option…but we still need more thump for the lineup
I’m all for Orelvis making the team and being successful. My fear is that management is banking on this as well as come back years from Bo and Kirk instead of getting more offense help.
It’s a sad state of affairs when a team is relying on someone with zero mlb experience to help carry the offense. I hope they’re able to sign a bat sooner than later
First I read 0 MPH, and I was sad. Then I read infinity MPH, and I was skeptical but happy. Then I realized what the word was. Now I am whelmed.
He better still wear #13. I was already thinking of getting a *Buck* Martinez jersey this year but Orelvis can be lumped in!
Who is Spring He?
Dudes gotta keep his nose clean first. He’s not only gotta dominate on the field but also earn the trust and respect of the coaching staff and his teammates.
Tatis Jr for example was already a star when he got caught. Orelvis has done jack shit to earn a roster spot, let alone a second chance. There’s also a real possibility that the power he flashed was due to PED’s.
Offseason is a complete fail if he is on the opening day roster
Teach him to play LF
Orelvis is fascinating because he has so much raw power. But he’s come up through the system so quickly that he might need an adjustment period before he becomes the hitter that he will eventually be (consider what Vlad has gone through).
And, unless he spent his suspension time learning to field, he has no defensive position that he can reliably play. He’s an amazing prospect, but what do you do with him?
I hope he still not trying to have babies
Think 2018 Teoscar production, which was a team willing to have patience for a strikeout prone free swinging defensive liability. 2025 Blue Jays cannot afford that, so expect Orelvis to start at AAA.
Ernie Clement should be locked in for a utility role at least. It seems like there are too many guys vying for the same spot to me. Clement, Will Wagner, Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez…someone has to go.
This would actually be a solid lineup if we could pull off:
Lots of people not really understanding what PED usage does for a player. He doesn’t have to be actively cycling a performance enhancer to play well. You cycle for a bit to build muscle/ability, and then it’s just about maintaining that level. Unfortunate for the sport but it’s almost worthwhile to eat the half season suspension once in your career in exchange for that development.
If I hear we’re relying Martinez to provide the missing power in this lineup, I’m going to tune out well before the season opener lol.
Does that mean he can’t be good? No, it just means you should take his performance as a surprise rather than an expectation.
Saying that he would be one of their best power bats is a low bar and just because that’s true doesn’t mean that this is an acceptable path to a competitive season. No respectable baseball team puts those expectations on their prospects, not even the most elite ones. Even Jackson Merrill was eased into 2024 surrounded by veterans who could shoulder the load of being the clutch players, and surprise, he excelled.
![[Nestico] Orelvis Martinez will be fighting for a roster spot in Toronto's crowded infield this Spring He would quickly become one of Toronto best power bats and add much needed oomph to their lineup](https://www.rawchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HYUiWJJGAGhLkFlDZp2aipKhUnNxd-0YKnzW1k5o6ZI-969x1024.jpg)
25 comments
As long as he can avoid getting popped for fertility treatments again, I’m in!
Amazing. This is the pivot we’ve all been waiting for…
IMO he’s the wildcard for this upcoming season. I don’t believe his power came simply from trying to make a baby (but like check with the team doctors next time), but even without a defensive position we could probably find a spot for him with the way his Bat looks like it will play in the majors.
I hope so. They definitely need to see his bat vs MLB pitching. Having a guy with some pop near the bottom of the order is good tho.
While the sample size was small it was encouraging that post suspension he was still hitting the ball hard and most scouts absolutely believe the power is real and not steroid driven.
I think even with the horrid defence he will battle for a spot in Spring Training at 3B with Barger. 2B & SS are obviously locked up. If he does make the team then Clement can be his defensive substitution in every game.
I do wonder if you just go the Alvarez route with him at some point and make him a DH.
It’s a massive shame that Orelvis earned himself a PED suspension as last season would have been the perfect opportunity for him to get his feet wet against MLB pitching in a lower pressure environment. I don’t particularly think that the drug Clomiphene was likely a huge factor in his high end bat speed (21st in MLB) but we’ll get a more complete picture this upcoming season.
His biggest issue will be his whiff rate, if he keeps it close to league average or at least no more than 30%, then he’ll be super productive for us, but if it’s >40%, it won’t be long until he’s back in AAA.
Ah, so we’re going with relying in “internal improvement” again. Worked out so well last year. Guys on First Up this morning have it right…our management is building an 85 win team hoping to squeak in and be wild card fodder again, not a division winner.
That being said, if he *starts* to tap into that potential this year he could be a very viable option…but we still need more thump for the lineup
I’m all for Orelvis making the team and being successful. My fear is that management is banking on this as well as come back years from Bo and Kirk instead of getting more offense help.
It’s a sad state of affairs when a team is relying on someone with zero mlb experience to help carry the offense. I hope they’re able to sign a bat sooner than later
First I read 0 MPH, and I was sad. Then I read infinity MPH, and I was skeptical but happy. Then I realized what the word was. Now I am whelmed.
He better still wear #13. I was already thinking of getting a *Buck* Martinez jersey this year but Orelvis can be lumped in!
Who is Spring He?
Dudes gotta keep his nose clean first. He’s not only gotta dominate on the field but also earn the trust and respect of the coaching staff and his teammates.
Tatis Jr for example was already a star when he got caught. Orelvis has done jack shit to earn a roster spot, let alone a second chance. There’s also a real possibility that the power he flashed was due to PED’s.
Offseason is a complete fail if he is on the opening day roster
Teach him to play LF
Orelvis is fascinating because he has so much raw power. But he’s come up through the system so quickly that he might need an adjustment period before he becomes the hitter that he will eventually be (consider what Vlad has gone through).
And, unless he spent his suspension time learning to field, he has no defensive position that he can reliably play. He’s an amazing prospect, but what do you do with him?
I hope he still not trying to have babies
Think 2018 Teoscar production, which was a team willing to have patience for a strikeout prone free swinging defensive liability. 2025 Blue Jays cannot afford that, so expect Orelvis to start at AAA.
Ernie Clement should be locked in for a utility role at least. It seems like there are too many guys vying for the same spot to me. Clement, Will Wagner, Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez…someone has to go.
This would actually be a solid lineup if we could pull off:
LF – Ward
CF – Varsho
RF – Springer
3B – Martinez (against RHP) / Clement (Against LHP)
SS – Bo
2B – Giminez
1B – Vlad
C – Kirk
DH – Joc (RHP)/ Martinez (LHP)
Let’s see how much of his good play was the peds
Lots of people not really understanding what PED usage does for a player. He doesn’t have to be actively cycling a performance enhancer to play well. You cycle for a bit to build muscle/ability, and then it’s just about maintaining that level. Unfortunate for the sport but it’s almost worthwhile to eat the half season suspension once in your career in exchange for that development.
If I hear we’re relying Martinez to provide the missing power in this lineup, I’m going to tune out well before the season opener lol.
Does that mean he can’t be good? No, it just means you should take his performance as a surprise rather than an expectation.
Saying that he would be one of their best power bats is a low bar and just because that’s true doesn’t mean that this is an acceptable path to a competitive season. No respectable baseball team puts those expectations on their prospects, not even the most elite ones. Even Jackson Merrill was eased into 2024 surrounded by veterans who could shoulder the load of being the clutch players, and surprise, he excelled.