TITANS ’00: A true freshman who
may have had as much offensive and defensive impact on his team as any freshman
in the Big West Conference • Started in all but eight games at shortstop
(a finger injury prevented him from playing in five of those games) •
Committed just two errors in his first 15 games and three in his last 15
• Turned 24 double plays and had 148 assists • Was one of the
Titans’ most consistent offensive players (his batting average hovered
between .272 and .283 over the last 17 regular-season games) • Was
0-for-9, however, in the NCAA Regionals • Hit all three of his home
runs on a seven-game road trip to Nevada, Oklahoma and New Mexico State,
during which he also collected 12 of his 28 RBI • Had his best game
against New Mexico State on March 30, when he went 4-for-5 (and walked)
with a home run, two doubles, five RBI and four runs • Had a six-game
hitting streak snapped in the regular season finale • Batted .378 (17-for-43)
with runners in scoring position.
KATELLA H.S.: All-state, All-Orange County, All-CIF and All-Empire
selection for Coach Tim Mc-Menamin as a senior • Had a 12-1 record
with a 2.75 ERA and batted .444 • Played outfield and shortstop as
well as pitcher.
PERSONAL: Born on April 12, 1981, in Downey, Calif. • Parents
are Robert and Cheryl Martinez • Has an older sister, Michelle, and
a younger brother, Mitch • Major is undecided • Once worked at
a Christmas tree farm • Says people who knew him in high school thought
he was shy • Favorite musical artist is Sublime and favorite TV show
is Baseball Tonight • Favorite team is the Atlanta Braves • His
father and high school baseball coach have had the most influence on his
career.
