J.D. Martinez: Return of in-game video 'cooled my anxiety'

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez (28) hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez: Return of in-game video 'definitely cooled my anxiety'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 4/5/21

The return of in-game video in 2021 has benefited many players, and one batter in particular may end up benefiting quite a bit.

Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez admitted Monday that the return of in-game video reduced his anxiety because it allows him to make adjustments at-bat to at-bat.

JD Martinez says access to in-game video has already had "a lot" of benefit for him. "It's definitely cooled my anxiety," and has allowed him to make adjustments at-bat to at-bat.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) April 5, 2021

Major League Baseball banned in-game video during the shortened 2020 season and reached an agreement with the players union to bring it back in 2021.

Martinez has long been an advocate for using video footage to understand why an at-bat went the way it did. Instead of brushing off a ground out or fly ball, Martinez would go back and break down the entire at-bat using video to adjust his mechanics before he stepped to the plate again.

When the league decided to ban in-game video last season, Martinez told reporters he thought the decision was "ridiculous."

"To take our game back 30 years, I think you're not doing it justice," Martinez said at the time. "I think you're just trying to do yourself a PR stunt. It's a joke. It's gotten so ridiculous."

The 33-year-old struggled at the plate last season, slashing .213/.291/.389 with seven home runs and 27 RBI.

For comparison, Martinez hit over .300 in his first two seasons in Boston, launching 79 home runs and driving in 235 runs in that span.

Now that video is back, the three-time Silver Slugger hopes to return to the player he was in 2018 and 2019. He's well on his way to doing that, too, slashing .500/.500/1.000 with one home run and three RBI on six hits in three games.

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