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Russell Martin | Catcher

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age / DOB:  (30) / 2/15/1983
Ht / Wt:  5'10' / 210
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Russell Martin (neck) went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a walk in his return to action Tuesday.
Martin hadn't played since last Thursday due to neck soreness. The veteran backstop is hitting .273/.368/.545 with six home runs, 12 RBI, and a .914 OPS through 29 games this season. May 15 - 8:49 AM

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Player News

Date:
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin (neck) is available off the bench Sunday.

Michael McKenry is starting again Sunday, but Martin's neck is feeling good enough that he can play if needed. The Pirates had Tony Sanchez around just in case Martin took a turn for the worse, but they've since sent him back to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Related: Michael McKenry
Source: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter
May 12 - 11:42 AM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin is not in the Pirates' starting lineup on Friday due to a flareup of his recent neck soreness.

Martin was scratched from the Bucco's lineup on Tuesday due to the ailment, then sat out Wednesday's contest as well. The injury doesn't appear serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list, but could continue to cause Martin to miss a game here and there when it acts up. Michael McKenry will handle the catching duties while he's out.
Related: Michael McKenry
Source: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter
May 10 - 7:05 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin was hitless in three at-bats in his return to the lineup Thursday.

He did reach base on a hit by pitch. Martin missed a couple games with a stiff neck, but he'll be fine.
May 10 - 8:06 AM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin (neck) is out of the Pirates' lineup Wednesday.

Martin was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to neck stiffness and apparently needs at least one more day before returning to action. Michael McKenry is starting behind the plate again Wednesday.
Related: Michael McKenry
Source: Dejan Kovacevic on Twitter
May 8 - 10:58 AM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin was scratched from the Pirates' lineup on Tuesday against the Mariners with neck stiffness.

Martin is considered day-to-day. Michael McKenry will start behind the plate Tuesday night versus the visiting M's.
Related: Michael McKenry
Source: Michael Sanserino on Twitter
May 7 - 5:00 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin slugged two home runs Sunday afternoon in the Pirates' 9-0 win over the Cardinals.

Martin hit a solo shot in the top of the second inning, providing the first tally of the game, and a two-run shot in the top of the ninth, providing a little insurance. The veteran backstop has a superb .892 OPS and five home runs in 22 games with his new team. Catcher is a deep fantasy position this year, but Martin looks ownable in a standard mixed format.
Apr 28 - 5:35 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin launched a game-tying two-run homer Saturday in the Pirates' 5-3 win over the Cardinals.

The Pirates were stymied by Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook through the first six frames of Saturday's game but jumped all over relievers Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal in the seventh. Martin's two-run shot made the score 2-2 and was followed by two more Pittsburgh tallies. Martin also doubled, improving his OPS from .699 to .772 with his highly productive 2-for-4 day.
Apr 27 - 8:09 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin stayed hot Monday, going 2-for-3 with a homer against the Phillies.

Martin has hit in seven straight after a 2-for-31 start, upping his average from .065 to .241. Don't expect it to get a whole lot higher.
Apr 22 - 10:26 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin hit his first home run of the season Thursday against the Braves.

Martin had just two hits over his first 31 at-bats this season, but he now has a modest three-game hitting streak going. Hey, we'll take what we can get. It's unlikely that Martin will match the power he showed in the Bronx, as PNC Park is a pretty tough venue for right-handed batters, but he should be owned in two-catcher mixed formats.
Apr 19 - 12:03 AM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin made an appearance at third base after Michael McKenry entered Monday's game against the Cardinals.

That's probably a better idea than playing him at shortstop, though it's really only an option for however long Pedro Alvarez stays ice cold. Alvarez went 0-for-3 and then got removed from Monday's game. For Martin, it was his 16th career appearance at third base. He started eight games there for the Dodgers in 2008.
Apr 15 - 10:49 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin is batting just .043 (1-for-23) so far this season.

Martin was hitless in his first six games to start the year before doubling in his first at-bats of Tuesday's game. The veteran backstop's batting average has been in a steady decline the last few seasons, sinking to a career-low .211 last year. He still has pop, though, and should help fantasy owners in that department.
Apr 12 - 1:45 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin (shoulder) is scheduled to start at catcher Sunday.

Martin has been limited to DH duty of late due to a sore right shoulder. He's feeling fine now, though, and it shouldn't be an issue going forward.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mar 10 - 10:40 AM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle expects Russell Martin (shoulder) to catch in a game "before the weekend."

Martin has been limited to DH duty of late due to a sore right shoulder, but he's feeling better. It's not a concern going forward.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mar 4 - 6:08 PM
Russell Martin - C - Pirates

Russell Martin (shoulder) is back in the Pirates' lineup Friday.

Martin had been sidelined the last few days with a sore right shoulder, but it was never a big concern. The 30-year-old has withdrawn from the WBC, so he'll have plenty of time to work with the club's pitchers.
Source: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter
Mar 1 - 8:37 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Russell Martin
2Michael McKenry
1B1Garrett Jones
2Gaby Sanchez
2B1Neil Walker
2Jordy Mercer
SS1Clint Barmes
2John McDonald
3Chase d'Arnaud
3B1Pedro Alvarez
2Brandon Inge
LF1Starling Marte
CF1Andrew McCutchen
RF1Travis Snider
2Jose Tabata
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1A.J. Burnett
2Wandy Rodriguez
3James McDonald
4Francisco Liriano
5Charlie Morton
6Jeff Karstens
7Jeff Locke
8Jeanmar Gomez
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Jason Grilli
2Mark Melancon
3Tony Watson
4Justin Wilson
5Vin Mazzaro
6Bryan Morris
7Jose Contreras
8Jared Hughes