JD Martinez did not sign with a team until the end of spring training. He ultimately agreed to a contract with the New York Mets, but still has not joined the ball club as he prepares for the 2024 season. So when will the six-time All-Star make his Mets debut?
The Mets are scheduled to begin a series in Cincinnati against the Reds on Friday. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Martinez is not expected to join the team for the series, however, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Still, it seems like it will not be long before Martinez makes his Mets debut.
“This is a very meticulous guy,” Mendoza said, via DiComo. “He knows his swing. Very detail-oriented. But he’s getting a ton of at-bats, and the feedback we’re getting … he’s moving in the right direction.”
The Mets are treating this like a rehab situation. They want Martinez to get at-bats at the minor-league level before he joins the big league club. New York could certainly use Martinez's production, as they are 0-4 to begin the 2024 season.
JD Martinez set to bring consistency to Mets
Martinez has been consistent over the years for the most part. Every once in a while, the veteran slugger will go through a difficult slump. But that's just baseball.
Overall, it is difficult to argue against Martinez's' productivity. For his career, he has slashed .287/.350/.524/.874. Martinez has made three consecutive All-Star teams while playing for the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
He can play the outfield if necessary, but Martinez is best suited for a designated hitter role at this point in his career. And that's completely fine given his all-around offensive prowess.
Martinez excels at taking the ball the other way. He's a doubles-machine at times, but also offers over-the-fence pop. Joining the Mets will not be a problem either, as Martinez has experience playing in big markets.
Martinez thinks the Mets can win as well. It obviously has not been a great start to the year, but perhaps they can surprise some people in the National League.
“For me, I know I don't have too many years left in this game, you know I'm 36 now I'll finish the year at 37. I wanna give myself the best chance to win,” Martinez said previously, via SNY. “I'm addicted to the playoffs, I've been there multiple times, you know, to the World Series, and once you get a taste of that, it's kind of addicting.”
Martinez's timeline to join the Mets is currently uncertain. There is no specific date listed for when he will make his Mets debut. It should happen soon, though.
We will continue to monitor and provide updates on JD Martinez and the Mets as they are made available.
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