ARLINGTON — J.D. Martinez put the Mets on his back with his first career walk-off home run last week and he’s carried them ever since. A monster week at the plate not only keyed a five-game winning streak for the Mets but also earned the veteran designated hitter National League Player of the Week honors, the league announced Monday ahead of the Mets’ opening game against the Texas Rangers.
Martinez hit .450 (9-for-20) with three home runs, nine RBI, three doubles, six walks and five runs in six games last week. He posted a 1.050 slugging percentage and .593 on-base percentage, leading the league in OPS (1.643) over that timespan. He also led all NL hitters in on-base percentage, tied the NL lead in walks, extra-base hits and total bases.
“Impressive, but that’s what special hitters do,” manager Carlos Mendoza said at Globe Life Field. “To see him get hot like that, he can carry a team.”
This is what the Mets envisioned when they signed the 36-year-old to a heavily backloaded one-year $12 million contract late in spring training. Beyond his power prowess, the Mets knew he could be an impactful player in the lineup for many reasons. They liked his winning pedigree, having been a member of the 2018 World Series-winning Boston Red Sox team and they like that he can wear down opposing pitchers even when he doesn’t get hits.
When he does hit, it’s usually timely. His calling card has long been his opposite-field power, something that was on full display Saturday when he clubbed a pair of homers to right-center field against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field.
“I’m a big guy that hits the ball to the opposite field well for [slugging percentage],” he said over the weekend. “I feel like that’s a recipe for driving in runs. There’s really not an art to it. It’s just doing that, and doing it consistently and not letting the pressure get to you. And for me, I like to pretend like no one’s on base every time I’m up. Just doesn’t matter.”
Martinez has been a levelheaded voice in the clubhouse during trying times, bringing some of the veteran leadership the Mets hoped for.
“I love to hit, I love to play ball,” he said. I know that I prepare, I know that I do everything I can possibly do to get ready for every bat. So if it works out, it’s great. If it doesn’t, there’s nothing else I would change. I know I did everything I possibly could. So for me, I really don’t put pressure on [myself] to perform or whatever like that.”
His message has resonated with the Mets as they’re playing looser, freer and enjoying baseball again after a dismal stretch last month.
MAD MAX MAKING A RETURN
Former Mets ace Max Scherzer has completed rehab for his herniated disk surgery and will make his next start in the big leagues, but it will be too late to face his old team. The right-hander, who was traded to the Rangers at the deadline for infielder Luisangel Acuña last summer, caught up with the Mets after they arrived in Arlington.
Scherzer praised owner Steve Cohen saying he enjoyed playing for him. He infamously refused to waive his no-trade protection with the Mets last summer, but eventually came around to the idea of playing for Texas, citing the team’s desire to win and easy access for his family to their South Florida home.
“It was a baseball decision,” Scherzer said. “With everything that went down, decisions had to be made around that. It’s unfortunate I was in that position, but everybody had to make a baseball decision on all sides and for me, it worked out well.”
Scherzer helped the Rangers win their first-ever World Series title but hasn’t pitched since.
EXTRA BAGS
Catcher Omar Narvaez cleared waivers and was released after being designated for assignment two weeks ago. … With the Mets undefeated since Grimace threw out the first pitch at Citi Field last week, the McDonald’s character has become a social media sensation. “Grimace” was trending on X following the Mets’ sweep of the Padres on Sunday and Bally’s Sports Southwest made mention of it on their pregame show. … Left-hander Brooks Raley is with the Mets for the series in Texas. Raley resides in San Antonio and has been rehabbing in Texas since he underwent internal brace surgery on his left elbow last month.
