Seth Martinez Bio
Seth Antonio Martinez (born August 29, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins. From Sierra Vista, Arizona, Martinez attended Arizona State University, where he played college baseball. The Oakland Athletics selected Martinez in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB draft, launching a minor league path that eventually carried him to the major leagues in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Seth Antonio Martinez was born on August 29, 1994, in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He grew up in nearby Peoria, Arizona, a community in the Phoenix metropolitan area known for producing baseball talent. His parents are Bobby and Kelly Martinez, and he has one sister, Taylor. His father, Bobby Martinez, worked as a high school baseball coach, an environment that helped shape Seth’s early understanding of the game.
Martinez attended Sunrise Mountain High School, where he played both baseball and golf. Over three varsity seasons, he posted a record of 19-4 with a 2.86 earned run average and 172 strikeouts over 144 innings pitched. During his junior year, he threw a no-hitter and earned a spot on the second-team All-State team, performance that drew attention from college recruiters.
Path to Baseball
After high school, Martinez enrolled at Arizona State University, where he played three seasons of college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. As a freshman, he pitched both as a starter and in relief and posted a 5-0 record with a 4.32 ERA. He also played summer baseball for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League, gaining valuable offseason innings. He began his sophomore year as Arizona State’s mid-week starter before being elevated to the number one starter role after seven starts.
As a junior in 2016, Martinez went 9-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 94 strikeouts over 111 and one-third innings. He was named to the first-team All-Pac-12 Conference squad and earned second-team All-American honors from Louisville Slugger. His primary catcher in college was fellow future major leaguer Brian Serven, a partnership that helped refine his command and pitch preparation.
Seth Martinez Career
Oakland Athletics and Minor Leagues (2016-2020)
The Oakland Athletics selected Martinez in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB draft. After signing, he was assigned to the Arizona League Athletics, where he pitched in three games. He began the 2017 season with the Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters before being promoted to the Single-A Beloit Snappers, where he went 5-10 with a 3.49 ERA over 95 and one-third innings pitched.
In 2018, Martinez returned to Beloit and converted to a full-time reliever, leading the Snappers with 15 saves. He began 2019 with the High-A Stockton Ports of the California League and was promoted to the Double-A Midland RockHounds, where he increased his strikeouts and lowered his ERA against stronger competition. Martinez did not appear in a game during 2020 after the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Houston Astros Era (2021-2024)
On December 10, 2020, the Houston Astros selected Martinez in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and assigned him to the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters. He was called up for his MLB debut on September 20, 2021, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. He added another scoreless outing before allowing five runs in the final inning of a blowout loss to Oakland. He did not pitch in the postseason but was part of the Astros’ World Series ring ceremony the following year.
In 2022, Martinez joined the Astros near the end of April as a long reliever. He opened his season with 17 and two-thirds scoreless innings before allowing a game-winning 10th-inning home run to Aaron Judge. After posting a 2.48 ERA over 32 and two-thirds innings through August 13, he was briefly demoted to Triple-A before being recalled on August 25. He earned his first major league win on September 15 against the Athletics, finishing his rookie year at 1-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 29 games and 38 and two-thirds innings pitched.
Martinez again split time between Houston and Triple-A in 2023, earning his first major league save on June 25 in the 11th inning of a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 2-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 43 innings across 35 major league appearances, while also pitching to a 2.25 ERA in 19 games at Sugar Land. In 2024, he appeared in a career-high 44 games with the Astros, going 3-2 with one save and a 3.59 ERA in 52 and two-thirds innings, finishing 14 games and recording 36 strikeouts and a 1.272 WHIP.
Miami Marlins and Free Agency (2025)
On November 4, 2024, Martinez was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks and designated for assignment on February 17, 2025. On February 20, the Miami Marlins claimed him off waivers, only to designate him for assignment a week later after acquiring Brett de Geus. On March 2, the Seattle Mariners claimed him, and Miami reclaimed him on March 15. After the Marlins acquired Tyler Phillips on March 26, Martinez was again designated for assignment and sent outright to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Martinez produced a strong showing in Jacksonville, going 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA, 54 strikeouts, and eight saves across 43 and two-thirds innings in 41 appearances. The Marlins selected his contract on August 27, adding him to their active roster. In six appearances for Miami, he recorded a 5.40 ERA with four strikeouts across 6 and two-thirds innings. He was designated for assignment on September 11 and elected free agency after clearing waivers on September 13.
Notable Events and Milestones
Martinez’s MLB debut came on September 20, 2021, with a scoreless inning for the Astros. He earned his first major league win on September 15, 2022, against the Athletics, and his first major league save on June 25, 2023, in an 11-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. His 2024 season marked career highs in games (44), innings pitched (52 and two-thirds), and appearances with the Astros.
Seth Martinez Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Martinez’s parents are Bobby and Kelly Martinez, and he has one sister, Taylor. His father, Bobby Martinez, worked as a high school baseball coach, providing a steady baseball influence throughout Seth’s upbringing. The family background helped shape his work ethic and early dedication to the sport.