Martin having a mighty year

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This article was published 06/08/2021 (1763 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Until this week, Kyle Martin was enjoying one of the most under-the-radar MVP calibre seasons you could imagine.

He’s been out of sight and out of mind for most Winnipeg fans, but that all changed Tuesday night.

The Goldeyes first baseman announced his return to the local limelight with a 3-for-3 performance that included a mammoth home run shot and four RBI in Winnipeg’s 14-5 win over the Sioux City Explorers.

It was the first game for the Fish at Shaw Park since the conclusion of the 2019 season.

“When you don’t get to play at home, you don’t get to play in your own fans and your own stadium and that kind of does take a toll a little bit,” said Martin following Winnipeg’s 5-0 win over Sioux City Thursday afternoon. “Thankfully, Fargo opened up their stadium to us last year but it’s just not the same as playing in Shaw Park. You could tell the difference when we came home that first game.

“There was just so much more life. The fans brought it to life and we were able to build off that.”

Not that Martin has had trouble motivating himself in 2021. Entering Friday’s matchup with the North Division-leading Milwaukee, Martin was tied for second in the league with Adam Walker of the Milkmen with 78 RBI, and was third among league home run hitters with 22.

With 30 regular-season games left to play, the 28-year-old Greenville, S.C., native is in good position to challenge a number of league and franchise records for offensive production.

The American Association RBI record of 103, set in 2009 by Cesar Nicolas of Grand Prairie, and the Goldeyes team mark of 90 RBI, set by Juan Diaz in 2009, is within reach. Martin could also eclipse the club home run mark of 29 set by Sean Hearn in 1998 and equalled by Diaz 11 years later.

The American Association single-season mark of 31 homers, set by Keon Barnum of the Chicago Dogs in 2019, is also a possibility.

“My end game is to help the team win and that’s all I’m trying to do,” said Martin. “If I break records, I’m breaking records but it’s not something I’m focused on now.”

With the Fish under .500 for most of the regular season so far, manager Rick Forney said Martin has been underappreciated.

“If our record was winning right now and we’re in the mix, he’s probably one of the top three in the league in terms of MVP voting,” said Forney. “I still think he’s there — based on his run production and stuff…. (Milwaukee’s) Brett Walker is probably gonna win the league MVP. He was MVP last year and he’s having a remarkable season… It’s (between) those two guys.”

The left-handed-hitting Martin, in his third season with the Fish, believes he’s a better now than he was in 2019. His offensive totals bear that out: Two seasons ago, he has 14 homers and 67 RBI in 82 games and followed that a year later with 16 home runs and 51 RBI in 60 games.

“I wouldn’t say anything’s really different, I’m just trying to continue building on those previous two years,” said Martin. “I’ve been taking the little things that maybe haven’t worked out in the past and then tweaking those and then trying to lock it back in…

“The first year I was here I was big pull guy and everything pull side and then last year I was able to hit the ball back side a little bit more and I think that helped me out as a hitter,” said Martin. “I just took that and ran with it and then started to progress from there.”

Winnipeg pitcher Jorge Gonzalez feels fortunate to have Martin as a teammate.

“He takes advantage of all the missed pitches,” said Gonzalez. “I know I wouldn’t want to face him. I know that if I made a mistake, I know where that ball is gonna go. He hits the ball very hard, too… He makes really good adjustments.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14