Justin

Martinez

Martinez worked around a two-out walk to John Rave by striking out pinch-hitter Isaac Collins to send a scoreless stalemate into extra innings. He was credited with the win in relief after Arizona scored five runs in the ensuing frame. The flame-throwing 25-year--old reliever has yet to allow an earned run across 6 2/3 innings since returning from the injured list for his season debut on August 18. He has yet to record a save for Arizona, but from a raw talent standpoint, he should be their closer of the future.

Martinez, who was emerging as Arizona’s closer when he was hurt last year, returns 14 months after Tommy John surgery. He pitched four hitless innings with six strikeouts and one walk in four rehab appearances. He’s yet to pitch on back-to-back days, and the D-backs will want to be careful with him. Still, he could quickly become a candidate for save chances.

Martinez touched triple digits six times and topped out at a sizzling 102.4 mph during the 11-pitch outing. It was his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer. The flame-throwing 25-year-old looks like Arizona’s closer of the not-so-distant future. He’ll require a couple additional outings before he’s ready to return to the majors, but he’s definitely close.

Martinez had Tommy John surgery last June and is now in the final steps of his recovery. Given how long he’s been out, the Diamondbacks will likely want to keep him in Triple-A for a couple weeks and have him build up to back-to-backs, but he should return to the Diamondbacks bullpen by the end of the month.

Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo said that Martinez could be ready for minor league rehab outings afterwards. The hard-throwing 24-year-old former closer is working his way back from last year’s Tommy John surgery and should make it to Arizona at some point in mid-to-late August based on his present trajectory.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, “Martinez is just about to step onto a mound in lives. I don’t know the exact day when he’s going to face his lives, but he’s very close, very close.” Martinez had Tommy John surgery last June and had been targeting an August return. As of now, he seems on track to return at some point in August but might need time to work back into leverage innings.

“I heard it was electric,” manager Torey Lovullo said. Martinez might rejoin the mix for saves in the D-backs bullpen in in July. However, A.J. Puk, another contender for ninth-inning duties, is expected to beat him back.

Martinez will miss at least the first half of the upcoming season while recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery. The hard-throwing 24-year-old former closer should return to Arizona’s high-leverage mix at some point in August, barring any setbacks. The procedural move frees up a spot on the club’s 40-man roster for veteran hurler Paul Sewald.

The 24-year-old hurler underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery last June. It’s possible that he’s being a bit optimistic with that return date, but it sounds like everything has gone smoothly in his recovery to this stage. Getting him back at all in 2026 would provide a welcomed late-season boost to the Diamondbacks’ bullpen.

Martinez is set to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed last week with a UCL sprain in his right elbow. The procedural move frees up a spot on Arizona’s 40-man roster.