Rudy Martin Jr. hits IL with hamstring strain

It’s a great story as it will be Martin’s MLB debut at age 30 after 12 years in the minors. There’s little fantasy impact to be found here — Martin could steal some bases but doesn’t figure to find regular playing time.

Martin will likely stick around with Toronto as organizational depth after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 30-year-old was added to the club’s 40-man roster last month, but never wound up being called up.

It’s another DFA for Martin, who has now been waived by the Orioles and Blue Jays this year while showing well at Triple-A. He’s hit .280/.408/.415 between three minor-league teams this year.

Martin Jr. is a big pick up for the Bisons; the 30-year-old has hit .385/.489/.590 for Triple-A Omaha and .261/.396/.406 for Double-A Northwest Arkansas this year. The Orioles had acquired from the Royals for cash on July 18, but never used him in a game before having to designate him for assignment.

Martin loses his spot on Baltimore’s 40-man roster with the club needing to bring up emergency catching depth with Adley Rutschman hitting the injured list. The 30-year-old was acquired from the Royals in a trade last week.

Martin heads to Baltimore after triggering the opt-out clause in his minor league deal with Kansas City. The 30-year-old has yet to reach the big leagues and has spent more than a decade toiling away in the minors. He’s put together a strong season in the upper minors, hitting .284/.414/.441 with eight homers and 33 steals in 255 plate appearances over 64 games this season.

The 30-year-old Martin was the Royals ' 25th-round pick in 2014. After seven years in the system, he joined the Nats organization in 2022 and then landed in indy ball for a time. He rejoined the Royals in 2025 and has been excellent this year, hitting .284/.414/.441 with 33 steals between Double- and Triple-A. It seems unlikely that another club would be willing to bring him right to the majors, but a contender might be open to adding him to the 40-man and looking at him as a potential tactical option down the stretch and in the postseason.

Martin signed a minor league contract with the Nationals last year and went on to hit .233/.346/.352 with five homers and 17 stolen bases across 211 plate appearances over 51 games in the lower levels of Washington’s minor league system. The 26-year-old outfielder spent the first six seasons of his career in the Royals’ farm system.

Martin, 25, spent the first seven years of his minor league career in the Royals organization. In 2021, he slashed .267/.389/.433 with 11 homers, 51 RBI and 21 stolen bases in just 89 games between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. He possesses an intriguing blend of power and speed and is joining a Nationals organization that could have openings in their big league outfield. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to think he could see time with the Nats during the 2022 season.