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Justin Martinez 2025 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Strong Strikeout Potential But Co-Closer Role Dampens Fantasy Expectations
1 day agoArizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Justin Martinez took a step forward in his second big league season, mainly reigning in the command issues that have plagued him. In the minors, his strong strikeout stuff came with a gaudy 16.0 percent walk rate, 1.61 WHIP, and 4.60 ERA. He also walked 11 batters in 10 innings pitched during his MLB debut in '23, but last season he lowered the walk rate to a more palatable 11.7 percent, pairing it with a 29.5 percent strikeout rate. The righty began the season allowing just one earned run over his first 20 appearances, a stretch of 25 IP. His 14.2 percent SwStr%, 96th-percentile Whiff% of 34.5 percent, and top-of-the-charts average fastball velocity of 100.3 provided the 6-foot-3 hurler a chance to close for Arizona later in the year, racking up eight saves after August 5. As it stands, the Dominican projects to be co-closer with lefty A.J. Puk, as ATC projections forecast Martinez for 21 saves, a 3.29 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 16.9 percent K-BB%. RotoBaller is a little bearish on the reliever's fantasy outlook as he splits opportunities with Puk, ranking Martinez at 254 overall, a round lower than his NFBC ADP of 240.
