Chito Martínez

2025-08-10T15:51:52Z

67.248.79.202: 1992 and 1993 seasons

{{Short description|Belizean baseball player (1965–2025)}}
{{for|the Venezuelan footballer|Chito Martínez (footballer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Chito Martínez
|image=Chito Martinez - Memphis Chicks - 1988.jpg
|caption=Martínez in 1988
|position=[[Right fielder]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{birth date|1965|12|19}}
|birth_place=[[Belize City]], [[British Honduras]]
|death_date={{death date and age|2025|4|20|1965|12|19}}
|death_place=[[Lake Cormorant, Mississippi]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=July 5
|debutyear=1991
|debutteam=Baltimore Orioles
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=April 20
|finalyear=1993
|finalteam=Baltimore Orioles
|statleague = MLB
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=58
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.259
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=18
|teams=
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1991}}–{{mlby|1993}})
}}

'''Reyenaldo Ignacio''' "'''Chito'''" '''Martínez''' (December 19, 1965 – April 20, 2025) was a Belizean [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) player, the first in MLB history to be born in his country.

==Career==
Born in [[Belize City]], Martínez emigrated to [[New Orleans]] with his family at two years old. After struggling in the minors, he contemplated going into business with his father whose company sells and services air conditioners.<ref name="doubters">{{cite news |last1=Eisenberg |first1=John |title=Chito Martinez proves doubters wrong |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-chito-martinez-proves/124745464/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=[[Baltimore Sun]] |date=August 16, 1991}}</ref> Martinez played minor league baseball for the [[Kansas City Royals]] organization, but never came close to the major leagues with them. The outfielder was signed to the Baltimore organization in the winter of 1990. By July 1991, Martinez had the most home runs in the [[International League]] (20) and he was called up from the Class AAA [[Rochester Red Wings]] to the Orioles.<ref name=Schmuck>{{cite news|last=Schmuck|first=Peter|title=Team reaches Whitt's end, Chito Martinez brought up|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/07/06/team-reaches-whitts-end-chito-martinez-brought-up/|access-date=3 December 2012|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=6 July 1991}}</ref>

He spent parts of three seasons (1991 to 1993) with the [[Baltimore Orioles]], hitting 13 home runs in his rookie season and posting a slugging percentage of .514 in 216 at-bats. He was also the first Orioles player to record a hit in each of his first six MLB games.<ref>{{cite news|title=1992 Upper Deck baseball card # 672}}</ref>

After his power dropped dramatically in 1992, Martínez received less playing time for the Orioles. He appeared in eight games for team in 1993, but was quickly demoted to the minors. He was unable to work his way back to the majors and retired from baseball in 1995.

==Personal life and death==
Martinez's son, Drew, played college baseball at the [[University of Memphis]] and was selected by the [[Los Angeles Angels]] in the 10th round of the [[2011 Major League Baseball draft]]. He played in the minor leagues from 2011 to 2016.<ref name=Cape>{{cite web|last=Rohan|first=Tim|title=Cape League Spotlight: Drew Martinez, Brewster|url=http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100806/SPORTS/100809841|publisher=Cape Cod Times|accessdate=3 December 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130118205000/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100806/SPORTS/100809841|archivedate=18 January 2013}}</ref><ref name=Commercial>{{cite news|title=Martinez, Locante first Memphis-area players drafted in MLB draft|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jun/07/martinez-locante-first-memphis-area-players-drafte/|accessdate=3 December 2012|newspaper=The Memphis Commercial Appeal|date=7 June 2011}}</ref> As of 2025, he is the fundamentals coach for the [[Eugene Emeralds]], the [[San Francisco Giants]] High-A affiliate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eugene Emeralds Announce 2025 Coaching Staff |url=https://www.milb.com/eugene/news/eugene-emeralds-announce-2025-coaching-staff |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

Another son, Dalton, played college baseball at [[Southern Polytechnic State University]] and, as of 2025, is the hitting coach at [[Georgia State University|Georgia State]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dalton Martinez - Hitting Coach - Staff Directory |url=https://georgiastatesports.com/staff-directory/dalton-martinez/345 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Georgia State University |language=en}}</ref>

Martinez died from a heart attack in [[Lake Cormorant, Mississippi]], on April 20, 2025, at the age of 59.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaydos |first1=Ryan |title=Chito Martinez, only Belize native MLB player, dead at 59 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/chito-martinez-only-belize-native-mlb-player-dead-59 |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=Fox News |date=24 April 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats |mlb=118379 |espn= |br=m/martich01 |fangraphs= |brm=martin003rey |retro=M/Pmartc003}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Chito}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Belize City]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball right fielders]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Belize]]
[[Category:Brother Martin High School alumni]]
[[Category:Eugene Emeralds players]]
[[Category:Fort Myers Royals players]]
[[Category:Memphis Chicks players]]
[[Category:Omaha Royals players]]
[[Category:Rochester Red Wings players]]
[[Category:Bowie Baysox players]]
[[Category:Columbus Clippers players]]
[[Category:Colorado Springs Sky Sox players]]
[[Category:Belizean emigrants to the United States]]

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Chito Martínez