Blue Jays Make Unfortunate Decision on Former Top 100 Prospect

Expected by many to add some power to the Blue Jays lineup, Martinez, 23, struggled in Triple-A this season, slashing .176/.288/.348 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs. This included 112 strikeouts across 99 games.

Martinez signs with Blue Jays at the age of 16

A native of the Dominican Republic, Martinez originally signed a Minor League deal with Toronto in 2018 at the age of 16 for the tune of $3.5 Million. Almost immediately after beginning his development in the Gulf Coast League in 2019, Martinez's ability to hit the ball for power became evident. He slugged 65 home runs in his first three seasons of minor league ball, quickly rising up the Blue Jays farm system.

He even ranked as high as No. 51 on Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list.

By 2023, Martinez had advanced to Triple-A. The following season after hitting 16 home runs for Buffalo in the first two and a half months of the season, Martinez was promoted to the big league club.

Martinez's MLB debut cut short following suspension

Martinez made his MLB debut on June 21, 2024, recording his first career hit in a 7-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Two days later, he received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Clomiphene, a performance-enhancing substance banned by MLB.

“Extremely disappointed and surprised,” Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins said following the news of Martinez's suspension. “We fully support the program and want a level playing field, and we’ll work with him to ensure he’s learned from this. Obviously, a big mistake. We'll support him when he returns and through the process.”

Martinez returned to Buffalo in September 2024, but his numbers have not been the same. Per MLBtraderumors.com, Toronto has one week to put Martinez through waivers, where any MLB club can claim him.