A’s rookie enjoys ride in big leagues
You know you’re having a good year when you reach base safely in 65 consecutive games — and that’s not the first thing you’d mention about the year.
A’s outfielder Nick Martini owns that on-base streak with Triple-A Nashville. It’s an active streak, but it’s on hold as Martini is in his third stint with Oakland.
It’s not quite at the top of Martini’s list because after spending the previous seven seasons in the St. Louis organization without reaching the majors, Martini made his bigleague debut with Oakland last month.
The Illinois native picked up his first major-league hit in Chicago, a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning that drove in the winning run in the A’s 7-6 victory over the White Sox on June 23.
That was Martini’s lone big-league hit until Thursday, when he went 3-for-5, including a two-run double, in a 6-4 win at Houston.
On Friday, Martini was asked what would be the first thing he’d tell his grandkids 30 to 35 years from now about his 2018 season.
“I think I’ll tell ’em about my first hit being at home in Chicago and then just what a fun ride this whole season’s been,” Martini said.
Martini’s fun ride in 2018 had been preceded by a lengthy, less enjoyable excursion through the Cardinals’ system. St. Louis drafted the left-handed hitter from Kansas State in the seventh round in 2011.
He made steady progress through the organization, reaching Triple-A Memphis in 2015 and beginning the 2016 season with Memphis as well. Though he hit .273 with the Redbirds in ’16, he got demoted to Double-A Springfield, with which he opened last season.
That return to Double-A understandably made Martini question whether he’d ever make it to the bigs.
“I was one step away (from the majors) and now I’m two steps away,” Martini said. “You never know if it’s going to happen. …
“You’ve got to have confidence but you’ve got to be a realist. I’d been playing for a while, had been in Triple-A for a while, and nothing was happening. For sure, (not ever reaching the majors) crosses your mind, but you can’t let it (affect you). You’ve got to keep going.”
Last year, Martini opted for free agency in November, and the A’s signed him two weeks later. He has hit .308 with Nashville, with that 65-game on-base streak.
So when A’s manager Bob Melvin decided to give center fielder Dustin Fowler the day off Thursday in Houston, Melvin went with Martini — and also put him in the leadoff spot.
Melvin said Martini “knows how to get on base. He makes pitchers work. He’ll take a walk. He doesn’t expand the strike zone. He profiles for the leadoff spot; that’s why he was there.”
Martini pinch-hit with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning Friday night. He grounded out to shortstop, leaving him 4-for-17 (.235) with Oakland. No matter the situation, Martini said Melvin’s encouragement boosts him and his teammates.
Said Martini: “It just gives you a lot of confidence to know that no matter when you get in there or what you’re doing, he has a lot of confidence in whoever he’s going to put out there.”
Martini’s current stint with Oakland coincided with outfielder Matt Joyce going on the disabled list because of a lumbar strain. When Joyce comes off the DL, Martini very well could return to Nashville.
Believe it or not, he’d have a ways to go before reaching a personal best for an on-base streak. While at Kansas State, the 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year reached base in 93 consecutive games, a streak that stretched over three seasons.