says of the legacy created by his dad and uncle. "It's actually been a challenge," Pedro Jr. plays with a big shadow and strong brand recognition always looming. Given his father's Hall of Fame career, and the fact that his uncle Ramon produced a 14-year career for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates with one All-Star appearance (1990, Dodgers), Martinez Jr.
Underpinning everything he does is an understanding. So, too, did Kansas City prospect Elier Hernandez, who signed for $3.05 million (2011) and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yadier Alvarez, who signed for $16 million (2015). The Chicago Cubs' top prospect, Eloy Jimenez, who signed for $2.8 million in 2013, also played in the IPL. 327 with four homers and 39 RBI in 58 games. One of the prospects who came through his league is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and is starring in the Class A Midwest League for the Lansing (Michigan) Lugnuts, batting. "I don't think his son agrees, because his son wants to play," Nina continues, adding, "He's one of the best hitters I see right here in the Dominican at his age." It is a giant leap, indeed, from childhood to the pros at 16. Nina says he agrees with Pedro Sr., that he also has sons and that he would do the same thing. His dad wants him to go to college first." "Seven or eight teams want to sign him, have a lot of interest, so we're waiting to see what's going to happen. "To me, he's one of the best players for July 2, 2017, right now," says Amaury Nina, president of the IPL, referencing the opening date of this year's international signing period. Question is, will it be the book kind, or the baseball kind? One way or another, like his father says, his education will continue. So he dives into it each day, hard, with every bit of the focus of a high school kid filling out college applications to all the best schools. It is the time for the love of his life, baseball. But now is not the time for summer frivolity. It's a dream come true.įriendly and articulate, earnest and intelligent, he is a pleasure to speak with. "I'm really excited just to put a uniform on and play baseball professionally. says from his home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, during a recent telephone conversation.
"Oh my gosh you have no idea," Martinez Jr. "Nice kid," says Red Sox slugger Hanley Ramirez, who has spent time with him in the weight room during spring training. He catapults from one drill to the next as if all of this hustle and bustle will bring tomorrow today. He drinks it in as if the game is liquid and he is the thirstiest man on earth. has been playing baseball since he took his first steps. WHO CAN BE patient at 16? A slugging third baseman in the International Prospect League in the Dominican Republic, Martinez Jr. I am leaning toward education, but I know he realizes he can play with those kids who have been signing in the Dominican." "I'm hoping that he's patient enough to hold on and go to junior college. But without a doubt, the skills are there. "And he's got some stuff he needs to develop still. "To be honest, as a dad, I don't want to trade education for now," Pedro Martinez told B/R during a conversation this spring.
That's where the youngest will land this fall if the family delays the start of Pedro Jr.'s professional baseball career. The eldest is playing high school ball in Boca Raton, Florida. "And today, I was the center of attention of the whole city of New York."
"I actually realized that I was somebody important, because I caught the attention of 60,000 people, plus you, plus the whole world watching a guy that, if you reverse time back 15 years ago, I was sitting under a mango tree without 50 cents to actually pay for a bus," Pedro Sr.
It was following a bitter Game 2 loss in the 2004 American League Championship Series to the hated New York Yankees that his pitcher/poet/philosopher father unspooled what at once was a classic line, after some 56,000 full-throated denizens of Yankee Stadium lustily serenaded him throughout the game with chants of "Who's Your Daddy?! Who's Your Daddy?!" It became the Bronx's favorite taunt when, after another frustrating loss to the Yankees machine a month earlier Martinez told reporters, "I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy." The branches are very strong, and he would sit on one of them and do his homework." He tells me stories about how he would study and do his homework on the mango tree. "He has a little spot there where he grows food and vegetables. "It's in Manoguayabo, the place where my dad comes from.
"It's still there!" exclaims Pedro Pablo Martinez Jr., 16, youngest son of Pedro You-Know-Who, Hall of Famer and the dad in this story.