Starting to feel right at home

Martinez hits pair of homers in win over Braves

Right fielder J.D. Martinez was on his way to the batting cages inside Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City when he got word.

His first reaction processed what it all meant, as the magnitude of the change washed over him immediately. No more taking the field as a Tiger. No more Detroit fans. No more playing with this particular team.

“You have all your friends, the life that you built over there, and it’s gone like that,” he said.

Not until about an hour later on July 18 did Martinez start to focus on how he’d logistically handle being traded from the Tigers to the Diamondbacks, a transition that’s ongoing as he’s working to establish a comfort level in the Valley to help him contribute as the elite slugger Arizona acquired him to be.

“I think that’s the hardest part; you have a life somewhere else and you just gotta pack up and move,” he said.

Martinez was as advertised Wednesday, smacking a pair of home runs during a 10-3 win over the Braves at Chase Field in a statement performance. In three starts since missing time after getting dinged in the hand during his second at-bat with the team, Martinez has four hits – three of which are homers.

“I’m trying to play my game, play baseball the way I know how to play and do what I know how to do, and that’s hit the ball in the air and that’s what I like to do,” said Martinez, who was added in exchange for three infield prospects. “I just want to continue to do that while I’m here.”

Arizona could end up being only a brief pit stop for Martinez; the 29-year-old was brought in as one of the more prized rental players on the trade market and is poised to cash in on free agency in the winter. But for now, this is where he’ll settle, and Martinez is trying to adjust with the help of the Diamondbacks.

“We want them in here comfortable and hitting home runs or striking guys out because they’re trying to help us,” said Roger Riley, the Diamondbacks’ senior director of

team travel and home clubhouse manager.

Riley texts players once a trade is completed to help unite them with the team as soon as possible; in Martinez’s case, the trade happened on a Tuesday and he met up with the team in Cincinnati the next day – debuting in a Diamondbacks jersey that spelled out his entire name on the back.

(Martinez had his full name on his jersey with the Tigers since they had another Martinez – Victor – on the team, and when the Diamondbacks asked for his preference with them, Martinez said to keep his name bar the same.)

Once back home, the team is responsible for paying for Martinez’s accommodations for the first week he’s in the Valley – taking care of a hotel, meals and a rental car.

“We’ve tried to make it easy for him to get to the ballpark,” Riley said. “We just don’t want him to have a bad experience.”

Riley used to coordinate more permanent housing for new players, tapping into real-estate contacts, but many of the players’ agents now help out.

Martinez actually set up his own living arrangement and had a house in Scottsdale ready to go as soon as the team returned from the road last week.

He’s still in a rental car, but his vehicle was set to arrive Thursday after getting shipped from Detroit. Google Maps help him figure out where to drive.

“That’s how I live right now,” he said.

Since he was on the road with the Tigers when the trade was announced, Martinez has been living out of a suitcase. He’s gone to the mall, adding a few shirts to his wardrobe, but friends and family are packing up his apartment in Detroit to send over his belongings. The Tigers are responsible for paying for his apartment after the trade.

Martinez arrived solo, but some players move their families as well. Outfielder Gregor Blanco was flipped during the 2010 season from the Braves to the Royals and brought his wife, motherin-law and son with him.

“I think the easiest part is being on the base- ball field,” Blanco said.

Getting into a routine is also on Martinez’s todo list. His agent, Bob Garber, has offered restaurant recommendations, and so far Martinez has tried Mastro’s City Hall, Breakfast Club and Original ChopShop.

When he gets an offday, he’d like to hike Camelback Mountain or take a trip to the Grand Canyon.

“It almost feels like you’re on vacation here,” Martinez said. “It’s so beautiful.”

Basically, he wants normalcy – which Martinez expects will arrive when his belongings do.

He also wants to do his job.

And although his life away from the field remains a work in progress, Martinez had no problem accomplishing that Wednesday.

“Today’s a positive day,” he said. “I can hopefully just keep riding it out.”

Reach the reporter at sarah.mclellan@arizona republic.com or 602-4448276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.