Carlos Ernesto Martínez (born September 21, 1991), nicknamed "Tsunami", is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in 2009, MLB voided his contract due to discrepancies over his name and date of birth after the revelation that he was also known as Carlos Matias. However, he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing, as it was found that the inconsistencies arose from poor record keeping.
The Cardinals signed Martínez in 2010, and he became a consensus top-100 prospect within Minor League Baseball and one of the Cardinals' highest-rated prospects. A starter in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut in 2013 and performed mainly in relief roles in his first two seasons in the major leagues, then earned a spot in the Cardinal's rotation in 2015. During his first MLB season, fans gave him the nickname "Little Pedro," due to the similarities in physique and pitching mechanics to former Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martínez.
Martínez pitched with the Cardinals through 2021. MLB suspended him twice in 2022, first for violating the minor league's performance enhancing drug policy, then later for violating the domestic violence policy. After serving those suspensions, Martínez began pitching in the Mexican League.
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Early life, name, and visa issues
Carlos Martínez was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, in a rural zone called Colinas del Sur, where official record-keeping is sometimes poor. Following the death of his mother when he was quite young, Martínez was adopted by an uncle with the last name Matias. The young Martínez originally had plans to become a priest but changed his mind soon after starting to catch the attention of major league scouts. Raised with his uncle's last name, some confusion eventually ensued when he attempted to secure a work visa to pitch in the United States.
When the Boston Red Sox first discovered Martínez, he was a 17-year-old who threw about 90 miles per hour (140 km/h), topping out at 92 miles per hour (148 km/h), with a loose delivery and athletic frame and also sported a quality breaking pitch and changeup. Projections were made that his body would fill out, and thus, increase the velocity and movement of his pitches, including a fastball up to 95 miles per hour (153 km/h). The team considered him comparable to first-round talent available in the Major League Baseball draft. Thus, the Red Sox moved to sign him while he was still relatively unknown, in part to get him for the lowest price possible. He signed for $140,000; however, a routine background check by Major League Baseball (MLB) officials raised several questions about the veracity of both his name and his date of birth. As a result, the Red Sox deal was voided, and, in March 2009, MLB suspended Martínez for one year.
Craig Shipley, the Red Sox executive in charge of international signing, remained adamant that the Red Sox no longer pursue Martínez. While the visa issues became more public, other teams scouted him and quietly lined up to bid for his services. Martínez started to live up to the Red Sox's projections, such as throwing a fastball about 95 mph as well as a power curveball. In time, Martínez's name and date of birth discrepancies were not considered to be significant issues.
Baseball career
St. Louis Cardinals
Once the MLB suspension expired, Martínez signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an international free agent in 2010 and received a reported $1.5 million signing bonus. While sorting out other visa issues, he pitched in the Dominican Summer League (DSL), where he started 12 games and completed 59 innings pitched (IP). He topped all Cardinals minor leaguers with a 0.76 earned run average (ERA), a .144 batting average against (BAA) and 0.71 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) and ranked second with 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9), third with a 5.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB), and the fourth toughest to hit a home run against (0.228 HR/9). He led the league in ERA, BAA, K/9, and WHIP (tied for first).
After impressing Cardinal team officials at a minor league mini-camp in February, 2011, he bypassed some of the lower level assignments typical to rookies and was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single-A Midwest League in 2011. He split the season between Quad Cities and the Palm Beach Cardinals, posting a combined won–loss record (W–L) of 6–5 over 18 games and 84+2⁄3 IP. He also participated in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game.
Returning to Palm Beach to commence the 2012 season, shoulder tendonitis began to bother him after just seven starts and the Cardinals placed him on the disabled list (DL). Despite being on the DL he was advanced to Double-A in late May with the Springfield Cardinals of the Texas League. After returning from the shoulder problems, Martínez posted a 4–3 record over 71 innings. He had 58 strikeouts and ended the season with a 2.90 ERA.
Work visa issues again became a problem prior to 2013 spring training. Unable to secure the proper documents due to lingering confusion as a result of his name change when originally signing with the Cardinals, Martínez sat out nearly all of the 2013 Cardinals major league spring training.
Cleared in late March, Martínez reported to Cardinals minor league spring training more than six weeks behind schedule, in time only for the last few days of camp and requiring an extended spring in Jupiter, Florida. While awaiting the visa in the Dominican Republic, Martínez built up his readiness in a throwing program. After the extended spring, he was reassigned with the Springfield Cardinals. He made just three starts there before the Cardinals called him up. Martínez sported a 2.31 ERA in 11+2⁄3 innings with nine strikeouts.
San Francisco Giants
On March 19, 2022, Martínez signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. He was released without making an appearance for the organization on April 28.
Boston Red Sox
Martínez subsequently signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on May 7, 2022. In his organizational debut with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox on May 8, starting against the Toledo Mud Hens, he lasted 2⁄3 of an inning while giving up five runs on four hits and two walks. In two starts for Worcester, Martínez struggled to an 0–2 record and 20.77 ERA with four strikeouts across 4+1⁄3 innings pitched. He was released by the Red Sox organization on May 18.
On May 27, 2022, MLB suspended Martínez for 80 games after testing positive for ibutamoren. On September 1, MLB again suspended Martínez, this time for 85 games after violating the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, retroactive to June 19. Per the terms of the policy, Martínez would participate in a confidential evaluation and treatment program supervised by the Joint Policy Board.
Toros de Tijuana
On February 14, 2023, Martínez signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. In five starts, Martínez posted a 1–0 record with a 7.15 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 22+1⁄3 innings. He was released on May 19.
Acereros de Monclova
On June 24, 2023, Martínez signed with the Acereros de Monclova. In three starts, he posted a 1–0 record with a 6.97 ERA and 10+1⁄3 innings pitched. Martínez was waived by Monclova on July 10.
Olmecas de Tabasco
On May 8, 2024, Martínez signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. In 22 games (5 starts) for Tabasco, he posted a 2–4 record and 4.70 ERA with 36 strikeouts across 46 innings pitched. Martínez was released by the Olmecas on March 13, 2025.
Pitching profile
Standing 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and weighing 185 pounds (84 kg), Carlos Martínez has been commonly compared to former Cy Young winner and Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez, due to being right-handed, having a similar physique, and deceptive and surprisingly fluid pitching mechanics. Further, they both are considered power pitchers with undersized builds featuring explosive and electric pitching repertoires. For this, Carlos Martínez has been nicknamed "Baby Pedro." In spite of his stereotypic physical limitations, certain attributes such as his natural athleticism cover somewhat for the lack of height. Further, a loose frame and naturally quick release also play up his skills on the mound. Martínez started his professional career throwing three pitches, a fastball, curveball, and a changeup. He has since added a sinking fastball and slider.
The high-velocity, electric fastball that originally caught the attention of Red Sox scouts when Martínez was 17 has developed into an elite-level pitch beyond initial expectations. His fastball has drawn further comparisons with Pedro Martínez. With a wiry and athletic frame, Carlos Martinez' arm generates enormous speed that dispenses dynamic velocity and movement, reaching up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), while situated primarily in the range of 94–96 miles per hour (151–154 km/h).
Martínez maintains fastball fleetness both from the windup and from the stretch. Because his arm speed generates immense recoil, he finishes off-balance, leaving him in an awkward position to field certain batted balls. His fastball is graded at 70 on a standard 20–80 scale, with a volatile life that vaults itself on batters, making it difficult for them to square their bats, and thus, hit effectively. His small stature and long recoil somewhat limit the command, but that is mitigated with the natural explosiveness and movement of the pitch. The sinking version of his fastball can get up to 96 MPH, while averaging 92–93 miles per hour (148–150 km/h).
The curveball Martínez throws is one of his breaking balls, grading at a 50 on the 20–80 scale, and 60 potential on a 20–80 scale as of October 2012. It features either an 11-to-5 or 12-to-6 break and it is very difficult to hit when in top form. The main discrepancy with this pitch is when he gets around on it and finishes with a "looping" effect. His other breaking pitch, the slider, became a fastball alternative go-to pitch in 2013. Also a power pitch, it averages 82.5 miles per hour (132.8 km/h) with −2.16 inches (−55 mm) of vertical break, and has proven to be effective in garnering swing-and-miss strikes.
Personal life
Martínez and his wife, Laura Rivas, have three sons.
Martínez was suspended by Major League Baseball in 2022 for violating its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, though the league did not reveal what actions led to this discipline.
Philanthropy
In 2015, Martínez founded the Tsunami Waves Foundation to help children in need in Missouri, Illinois, and the Dominican Republic. He has visited schools and set up baseball clinics in Fairmont City, Illinois and collected gloves and other baseball equipment for kids in Puerto Plata. He hosted an annual charity bowling event to raise money for the foundation.