Player Page

Weather | Roster

Victor Martinez | Designated Hitter

Team: Detroit Tigers
Age / DOB:  (34) / 12/23/1978
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 210
Bats / Throws: Switch / Right
Contract: view contract details
Share: 

Latest News

Recent News

Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer off Houston's Bud Norris in the Tigers' victory Monday.
Martinez still isn't hitting for average, but at least he's come through with two homers and eight RBI in 11 games so far this month. He figures to improve as the season goes along. May 13 - 10:20 PM

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Nationals.

The DH isn't available under National League rules, so V-Mart will take a seat. Fantasy owners should prepare themselves for the possibility that he'll also be out of the lineup Wednesday.
Source: Detroit Tigers on Twitter
May 7 - 3:34 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez went 0-for-4 in Thursday's loss to the Royals, dropping his average to .187.

V-Mart had five hits in a two-game stretch from April 16-17 to push his average to a season-high .216, but he's managed just three base knocks in 24 at-bats since. He's also yet to go deep and has just two doubles. The important thing is that he feels healthy, so he represents a nice buy-low opportunity if his owner is selling.
Apr 25 - 5:06 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez had three hits Tuesday to raise his average from .146 to .194.

It's a start. One of the hits tonight was Martinez's first double of the year.
Apr 17 - 1:38 AM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez (thumb) is tentatively in Wednesday's lineup against the Blue Jays.

V-Mart sat out Tuesday's game after he cut his right thumb on the bat rack and required eight stitches. While he's in the lineup for now, things could change if he feels discomfort during pre-game warm-ups.
Source: Jason Beck on Twitter
Apr 10 - 10:12 AM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez is out of Tuesday's lineup against the Blue Jays with a cut on his right thumb.

V-Mart required eight stitches after cutting his thumb on the bat rack, but the good news is that he's considered day-to-day. Andy Dirks will serve as the designated hitter Tuesday while Don Kelly will start in left field.
Related: Don Kelly, Andy Dirks
Source: Jason Beck on Twitter
Apr 9 - 10:43 AM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez is unable to hit from the left side of the plate because of minor back soreness.

The veteran switch-hitter told reporters that he expects to resume batting lefty within the next "couple days." Martinez is fully recovered from last year's knee surgery and should start at DH for the Tigers on Opening Day.
Source: Jason Beck on Twitter
Mar 6 - 2:39 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he is "backing off" of using Victor Martinez as much as he has early in spring but reiterated that the designated hitter is "fine."

Martinez, 34, missed the entire 2012 season while recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee, so Leyland is just being cautious with his veteran. The switch-hitting former catcher will be charged with protecting Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in the Tigers lineup, a spot that will most certainly come with plenty of RBI opportunities in 2013.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Mar 2 - 11:08 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez went 3-for-3 with a homer off Roy Halladay in a tie game between the Tigers and Phillies on Sunday.

The game ended deadlocked at 5 after 10 innings. Martinez was a DH today, and he'll occupy that spot throughout most of the spring and season. However, he is expected to get a start at first base when Prince Fielder gets a day off this week.
Feb 24 - 5:39 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez (knee) felt good after making his Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Braves.

In his first game action since knee surgery last year, V-Mart served as the DH and went 0-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch. "Honestly, I'm not really thinking about the knee," said Martinez. "I'm just letting the fans know, I'm not thinking about it. I come to spring training now like I used to be: just getting ready to get to the season." Projected to be the Tigers' No. 5 hitter this season, Martinez could prove to be a real bargain in fantasy leagues where he still qualifies at the catcher position.
Source: MLive.com
Feb 22 - 4:45 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez (knee) said Wednesday that he plans to be available at catcher during interleague play.

"I'm still catching," said Martinez, who is working his way back from left knee surgery. "I don't see the reason why not. I always work hard to play. I always work hard to catch. I've always been in the shape that I am right now. I don't see any reason. But we'll take it slow. It's the first day." Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski recently said that V-Mart won't catch at all in 2013, but manager Jim Leyland didn't completely rule out the possibility when asked on Wednesday. Still, we're guessing he would only get a look behind the plate in an emergency situation.
Source: MLive.com
Feb 13 - 10:49 AM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon said Victor Martinez (knee) has looked "unbelievable" at the plate during early hitting at the Tigers' spring training complex.

"Victor looks unbelievable," McClendon said. "I am really, really impressed with what I've seen. He's in great shape, and he's swinging the bat extremely well. A lot of zip, a lot of pop, it doesn't look like he's lost anything." V-Mart missed all of 2012 while recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee, but it sounds like he's back to normal and ready for a big bounce-back season.
Source: Detroit News
Feb 8 - 9:33 AM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez told reporters on Thursday afternoon that he is fully recovered from left knee surgery.

"I'm ready to go, man," said Martinez. "I'm ready to go." The 34-year-old slugger has already reported to the Tigers' spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida and is quickly rounding into a massive fantasy sleeper for the 2013 season. He hit .330/.380/.470 with 12 home runs and 103 RBI in 145 games with the Tigers in 2011 before missing all of 2012 due to major knee problems.
Source: Tom Gage on Twitter
Feb 7 - 2:38 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said on MLB Network Radio on Wednesday that Victor Martinez (knee) will not catch at all in 2013.

V-Mart missed all of 2012 while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL and is expected to serve as the club's primary designated hitter in 2013. Meanwhile, Alex Avila and Brayan Pena will handle catching duties. Fortunately Martinez is still catcher-eligible in most fantasy leagues, though his value will likely take a big hit going into 2014.
Source: Jim Duquette on Twitter
Jan 16 - 12:40 PM
Victor Martinez - DH - Tigers

Victor Martinez (knee) began a running program Friday.

"Victor is not running at full speed, but he is running very well," said Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand. V-Mart is doing low-volume work right now, but will progress to higher-volume work in time. The Tigers plan to take it easy with him during spring training, but the expectation is that he'll be ready on Opening Day. While Martinez is poised to serve as the club's primary DH in 2013, he still holds significant fantasy value because of his catcher-eligibility.
Source: FOX Sports Detroit
Jan 15 - 1:49 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Alex Avila
2Brayan Peña
1B1Prince Fielder
2B1Omar Infante
2Ramon Santiago
SS1Jhonny Peralta
3B1Miguel Cabrera
LF1Andy Dirks
2Matt Tuiasosopo
CF1Austin Jackson
2Avisail Garcia
3Don Kelly
RF1Torii Hunter
DH1Victor Martinez
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Justin Verlander
2Max Scherzer
3Doug Fister
4Anibal Sanchez
5Rick Porcello
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Jose Valverde
2Joaquin Benoit
3Phil Coke
4Octavio Dotel
5Luke Putkonen
6Darin Downs
7Drew Smyly
8Jose Ortega