NEW YORK (AP) — Six-time All-Star J.D. Martinez joined the New York Mets on Friday, more than a month after he signed and hopeful the back woes that delayed his debut are a thing of the past.
“I made it,” Martinez said with a grin at his locker.
Martinez batted fifth against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday night — in between former NL home run king Pete Alonso and former NL batting champ Jeff McNeil. The Mets are hopeful Martinez, whose 291 homers since 2014 are the fifth-most in the majors, can lengthen a lineup that has scored three runs or fewer 12 times in 24 games this season.
“I’m not going to lie — writing that lineup and putting his name on the paper is a good feeling,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Martinez filled the Mets’ need for a designated hitter by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $12 million — with $7.5 million deferred in annual installments from 2034-38 — on March 23, six days before New York opened its season against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
UN Human Rights Council calls for accountability for possible war crimes by Israel
Barcelona's De Jong out for season, ready for Euros
Xi presents order to promote military officers to rank of general
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership
Girona close in on UCL sopt with Las Palmas win
China embraces AI boom, diverse application scenarios
Barca may request Real replay if VAR error found
Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
China's cultural relics repatriation drive gains momentum as 38 artifacts return
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
China's top liquor brand reports 15.59 pct profit surge in Q1