Edgar Martinez: Where is the Seattle Mariners’ legend now?
SEATTLE (BVM) – It took 15 years for Mariners fans and baseball fans in general to get Edgar Martinez into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Two years later, Seattle unveiled his statue outside of T-Mobile Park.
Even though it took some time for Martinez to receive glory for his tremendous career, many of the younger generation is starting to realize the superstar that he was.
Becoming a Mariners legend
After a tryout, Seattle took a chance on Martinez with a $4,000 signing bonus. It did not take long for the Mariners to receive a return on investment as Martinez began to blossom a couple of years into his minor league career.
He came up near the end of the 1987 season but struggled to get consistent playing time with the major league club over the next couple of years. It was not until 1990 that Martinez got some steady run. He played 144 games that season hitting .302 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs. At age 27, Martinez had finally become a big league regular.
In 1992, Martinez made his first All-Star team and was rewarded later that season with a three-year, $10 million extension, the largest contract in franchise history at the time.
The following two seasons for Martinez were difficult, only playing in 131 games due to various injuries, but he came back with a vengeance in 1995, putting up the best numbers of his career. He hit .356 that season with 29 home runs with 113 RBIs, finishing third in MVP voting behind Mo Vaughn and Albert Belle.
Martinez would continue to be the heartbeat for the Mariners’ organization through the 2004 season, making five more All-Star appearances and winning three more Silver Sluggers.
Throughout his 18–year career with Seattle, he is the franchise leader in games played, runs, RBIs, doubles and walks.
Returning to the organization
In the middle of the 2015 season, Seattle brought Martinez back to the organization as the team’s hitting coach. He was in that role through the 2018 season and then transitioned to being a hitting advisor.
Honoring his career
After his retirement in 2004, it took 13 years to retire his No. 11. He was inducted into the Mariners’ Hall of Fame in 2007, but it took a while to get him into Cooperstown. In his final year of eligibility, Martinez was voted in on 85.4% of ballots, eclipsing the 75% needed.
Last year, Seattle did right by Martinez, putting a statue along Edgar Martinez Drive, where he will be recognized by generations of Mariners fans for perpetuity.
Where is he now?
In Jan. 2021, Martinez took a role with the MLBPAA. The MLB Players Alumni Association announced that Martinez along with Chipper Jones and Barry Larkin were joining the team.
We are pleased to announce MLBPAA's new Vice Presidents; Chipper Jones, Edgar Martinez and Barry Larkin!
These three Hall of Famers will be joining existing VP's; Bob Boone, George Brett, Carl Erskine and Robin Yount.
Welcome to our team gentlemen! pic.twitter.com/zimjui2RmG
— MLBPAA (@MLBPAA) January 28, 2021
