Justin MartÃÂnez (born July 30, 2001) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
MartÃÂnez signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent on March 5, 2018. He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Diamondbacks. MartÃÂnez split the 2019 season between the DSL Diamondbacks, rookieâÂÂlevel Arizona League Diamondbacks, and rookieâÂÂlevel Missoula Osprey. In 18 games (10 starts) between the three affiliates, he recorded a 2.89 ERA with 78 strikeouts across 56 innings of work. MartÃÂnez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MartÃÂnez began the 2021 season with the SingleâÂÂA Visalia Rawhide, but underwent Tommy John surgery after only 7 starts. In 2022, he returned from the injury partway through the year. In 20 games split between the rookieâÂÂlevel Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks, HighâÂÂA Hillsboro Hops, DoubleâÂÂA Amarillo Sod Poodles, and TripleâÂÂA Reno Aces, he accumulated a 3.32 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 38 innings of work. After the season, MartÃÂnez played in the Arizona Fall League, making it to the league's all-star game in November. On November 15, 2022, the Diamondbacks added MartÃÂnez to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
MartÃÂnez was optioned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the 2023 season. In 25 games for the TripleâÂÂA Reno Aces, he posted a 4.18 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 5 saves in 28 innings of work. On June 27, 2023, MartÃÂnez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He went unused out of the bullpen and was optioned back to Reno on June 29, becoming a phantom ballplayer. He was promoted for a second time on July 7, making his MLB debut the same day, allowing two runs in one inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 10 games during his rookie campaign, MartÃÂnez struggled to a 12.60 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 10 innings pitched.
MartÃÂnez was again optioned to TripleâÂÂA Reno to begin the 2024 season. He made 64 appearances for the Diamondbacks, posting a 5-6 record and 2.48 ERA with 91 strikeouts and 8 saves across innings pitched.
On March 21, 2025, MartÃÂnez and the Diamondbacks agreed to a five-year, $18 million contract extension. In 17 appearances for the team, he compiled a 1-2 record and 4.11 ERA with 22 strikeouts and five saves across innings pitched. On June 10, MartÃÂnez was placed on the injured list due to a right UCL sprain. Three days later, it was announced that MartÃÂnez would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his season.