It is a case of joining them after you beat them.
Ernesto Martinez Jr. played last season with the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. He appeared in nine games against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and although he only went 5-for-30, some of the hits he had led the Sounds to victory. On May 22, 2025, in a game during a series in Nashville, his single capped a five-run seventh inning that tied the game at 6. Nashville won in 11 innings, 7-6. Two days later, his home
run finished off a 12-5 win for Nashville. Finally, on Aug. 2, 2025, at PNC Field, the Sounds trailed, 2-0, heading into the top of the ninth inning when they scored seven runs. Martinez’s two-run double put Nashville ahead, 3-2, on its way to a 7-5 win.
This season, the 27-year-old left-handed slugging first baseman and native of Cuba is with the RailRiders and producing some big hits for them. In 87 games, Martinez is batting .238 (72-for-302) with 10 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs and 53 RBI. His home-run total is a career-high, surpassing the 13 he hit in 2024 with the Biloxi Shuckers, Double-A affiliate of the Brewers in the Southern League. He is nine RBI away from tying his career-high of 62, also set during that 2024 campaign.
Two of his home runs have been grand slams: April 3rd in a 17-4 rout at Rochester in the second game of a doubleheader and July 7th at Buffalo that completed an eight-run ninth inning and an 18-3 romp.
On July 28th, in the series opener at the Iowa Cubs, his two-out, two-run triple to left-center field in the top of the eighth inning tied the game at three. He scored on the next pitch when Kenedy Corona laid down a perfect bunt that he beat out for a single. Martinez then tacked on some insurance with a two-run single in the top of the ninth that gave the RailRiders a 6-3 victory. It was Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s first game in Iowa since 1990 when they were the Red Barons and affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. It was their first win in the Hawkeye State since July 27, 1989 — a span of 37 years and one day.
For the most part, Martinez is pleased with how his season is going.
“It’s had its ups and downs, been more positive than negative,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot, got better defensively, gotten better at putting the ball in the air. I feel like I’ve progressed a lot, regardless of the downs.”
He said a slight adjustment to his swing has helped him hit as many home runs as he has this season.
“Just working on taking some stuff from Judgie (Aaron Judge), Spencer (Jones),” Martinez said. “Some stuff that they’ve adapted to me and my particular hitting approach. It’s been a little bit inconsistent because it’s the first I’m doing it. But that’s pretty much what we’ve been doing.”
Born in Antilla, which is located in the Holguin Province of Cuba, Martinez was originally signed by the Brewers as a nondrafted free agent in May 2017. He worked his way up through the organization in eight seasons before electing to become a free agent last November. He signed with the Yankees in December. Several factors led to his decision.
“What was really attractive was what other people were saying about them. Plus the history of the Yankees. The callup percentage of guys who are signed free agents. But the commentary of the people outside the field and inside the field were great. I always wanted to put the jersey on. It wasn’t like a no-brainer, but it almost was.”
Martinez was a fan of the Yankees growing up in Cuba. He followed players like Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano.
“My dad used to bring me some tapes from outside the country and I would watch video of all those guys,” Martinez said.
His father, Ernesto Martinez Sr., has been and continues to be a big influence on Martinez’s career. Ernesto Sr. played 10 seasons as a catcher in the Cuban National Series and in 2002, he contributed a solo home run in Game 7 of the championship series to help give Cachorros de Holguin a 2-1 win and the team’s first title.
The elder Martinez then continued his professional career in France. At the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, father and son played on the same team for France. The younger Martinez was the youngest player at age 17.
“He was a hero of the city where I grew up. He won them their only championship,” Martinez said. “So I pretty much wanted to be like him when I grew up.”
Be patient. That is the best piece of advice Martinez’s father has given him.
“In baseball, there is always a day after the other,” Martinez said. “You’re always going to get a next day in baseball.”
Martinez is patiently waiting for his first callup to the major leagues. For that to happen, he feels he must be a little more consistent.
“I came here to get better,” he said. “We know what the goal looks like. We’ve just got to repeat it every day.”
