New Rays shortstop is a pleasant surprise

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Felix Martinez, rejected by the Royals and Phillies, has played well at shortstop despite being surprised his opportunity came so soon.

Felix Martinez has done his job in the field and at the plate since replacing Kevin Stocker.

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- If you believe everything you read and heard over the past couple years, you'd think Felix Martinez is a hot-tempered and immature shortstop who may not belong in the major leagues and probably can't hit enough to stay there, anyway.

If you go by what you've seen the past couple weeks, you'd think Martinez might be the Devil Rays' next All-Star, given his dazzling defensive play and strong offensive contributions.

"We like what we've seen so far," general manager Chuck LaMar said. "His talent has been unquestioned for the last couple years. He went through a couple rough spots and had an incident at the major-league level, but I think he's grown up.

"Sometimes it takes losing a spot on a major-league club to appreciate that spot. I think we had a few of our players go through that very thing, and when they get called back up they truly appreciate what the major leagues are all about. I think Felix now is ready to be a major-leaguer."

The Royals thought the same thing when they brought Martinez to the majors at the end of the 1997 season and made him their 23-year-old Opening Day starter in 1998.

But he struggled offensively, and then made it into the headlines for the wrong kind of hit, sucker-punching Angels infielder Frank Bolick, who reportedly was trying to be a peacemaker during an ugly brawl June 2, 1988.

Martinez was suspended by the league, sent to the minors by the Royals and trashed by other players, including Anaheim's Phil Nevin, who said, "He should be kicked out of baseball. ... If I'm catching and he comes to the plate, I just might kill him."

Worse, it wasn't the first troubling incident. Earlier that season, Martinez kicked Minnesota's Otis Nixon and broke his jaw during a play at second, though he claimed it was an accident and apologized. He had temper issues in the minors as well, reportedly getting ejected 13 times in one season with Double-A Wichita in 1995.

The Royals banished him to Wichita in 1999 and left him in the minors virtually all year, then placed him on waivers. General manager Herk Robinson said at the time that Martinez had matured, but also that a change of scenery would be best for all parties.

The Phillies brought him to camp this spring, and Martinez made a point of saying his past was behind him while making a good impression on the field. "We loved his athletic ability; he can play short," Phillies manager Terry Francona said. "He was a model citizen, a good kid to be around. We enjoyed him."

But the Phillies didn't have room on the roster, deciding to instead keep Tomas Perez as a reserve infielder. Martinez was on waivers again, claimed this time by the Rays, who were desperate in late spring for a Triple-A shortstop. When they decided May 25 to release Kevin Stocker, Martinez was called up and anointed Tampa Bay's starter.

"I was surprised because I didn't expect it to be this soon," Martinez said. "I've got a chance to play here and I'm going to work hard every day."

The Rays, well aware of Martinez's background, say they haven't seen even a trace of trouble. "He got another chance in his career and he's taking advantage of it," second baseman Miguel Cairo said.

Martinez says his checkered past is just that. "What happened before, I just go forward now," he said.

Martinez grew up in the Dominican Republic, but in Nagua, not the baseball hotbed of San Pedro de Macoris. He was a tough kid from a tough part of town who starred in soccer and didn't begin playing baseball until age 15. He signed a few years later with the Japanese League Hiroshima Carp, but realized he really wanted to get to the major leagues. The Carp obliged by turning around, and undoubtedly turning a profit, by selling his contract to the Royals.

The Rays like just about everything they've seen from the 26-year-old switch-hitter -- his range, energy level, speed, arm, field awareness, overall athleticism, surprising success at the plate, you name it. "He's handled himself well," manager Larry Rothschild said.

Given the transitory nature of the roster, the Rays aren't making any long-term commitments to Martinez. But the difference between his play and that of Stocker has been stark -- and fun to watch.

"I like the way he plays shortstop and I like the way he goes about it," Rothschild said. "I think he's helped quite a bit."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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