Justin Martinez’s career is now an investment opportunity

According to Front Office Sports, Martinez is one of the first players involved with Agentiq, a startup hoping to create a marketplace where investors can buy a share of an athlete’s future income. The concept gives athletes money upfront while investors take on the risk — and potential reward — of their future success.

For Martinez, the investment is tied to his future earnings as his career develops with the Diamondbacks and potentially beyond. If he establishes himself as a successful major league pitcher and earns lucrative contracts, investors could benefit. If injuries, poor performance or other setbacks derail his career, they could lose money.

The right-hander has emerged as a young piece of the D-Backs’ pitching staff, making his long-term earning potential an intriguing proposition for investors.

But there is uncertainty around the model, as many professional sports careers often face. Investors are betting not just on Martinez’s performance on the mound, but also on his health and longevity. The 25-year-old is coming off a second Tommy John surgery, which could impact that long-term investment in his career.

Agentiq is initially focusing on baseball and hopes to eventually expand to other sports. The company also envisions allowing investors to build portfolios with stakes in multiple athletes, spreading the risk across players rather than relying on one career.

The concept isn’t new. Previous companies have tried to turn athletes’ future earnings into investments, but those efforts faced challenges involving regulation, liquidity and the unpredictability of professional sports.

Agentiq is betting that fans will see Martinez and other up-and-coming athletes as more than just stars to watch — they could be investments, too.