Ex-Mountaineer Martinez leads AL in ERA

Martinez has a 0.45 ERA through 3 starts.
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Two weeks into the Major League Baseball season, former infielder Nick Martinez (Vermont, 2009) has established himself as one of the best pitchers in the American League, posting a league-best 0.45 ERA through his first three starters with the Texas Rangers.

Martinez, who let up a 4.55 ERA in 24 starts with the Rangers last season, wasn't a lock to make the rotation entering Spring Training. Manager Jeff Bannister was impressed by the right-hander's 0.84 ERA in three Cactus League games, and his success has carried over to the start of the season.

Entering today's start against the Angels, Martinez has yet to give up a home run in 20 innings of work and is 2-0 with nine strikeouts. Not known for overpowering stuff, Martinez has gotten results with his four-seam fastball that tops out around 91.

He's gone six innings in all three of his appearances, and holds a 1.00 WHIP. Walks (6) have been an issue in running up his pitch counts, but Bannister isn't complaining as he's holding opposing hitters to a .197 mark.

Martinez went seven innings against the Angels earlier this year, allowing a lone unearned run and just five hits. He squares off against Hector Santiago in today's matchup.

OTHER MOUNTAINEER NOTES
- A.J Pollock (2007) is hitting .344 on the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and has an even more impressive .405 mark over his last 10 days. The two-time 2014 NL Player of the Week has come back even better then he was before breaking his hand last year, and is up to his usual stellar defensive play in center, ranking second among center fielders in DRS (defensive runs saved).

- Micah Johnson (2010) went 1-for-3 on his debut at second base for the Chicago White Sox, and is now hitting .282 through his first 14 games at the major league level. Johnson is just 2-for-4 on stolen bases so far after stealing 109 in the past two years in the minors. He's also adjusting defensively, as he ranks 24th among everyday second basemen defensively. Johnson is hitless in his last ten at-bats going into today's game.

- Christian Friedrich (2007) has fanned seven in 10.1 innings out of the bullpen for the Colorado Rockies and has a 3.48 ERA through nine appearances.