Joe Martinez, Hit in Head by Mike Cameron, Returns to San Francisco Giants

Joe Martinez, starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, is riding the Good Luck/Bad Luck Train this season.

Fortunately, in April, he finally made the San Francisco Giants Opening Day roster after four years of toiling in their minor league system.

Fortunately, he pitched 2 2/3 strong innings on Opening Day to earn a win.

Unfortunately, Mike Cameron of the Milwaukee Brewers lined a baseball off his head in the second game of his career, causing three hairline fractures and a concussion. It has been a long road back for Martinez, who spent 60 days on the disabled list before joining the Giants AAA Fresno club, where he was 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 5 starts.

Now, with Randy Johnson sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Giants are ready to give Joe Martinez a chance to get back on the horse. He is the probable starter for the Giants on Wednesday against the Houston Astros and, with some more good luck, he could stick as the number 5 starter for the rest of the season as the Giants make a wild card run in the National League.

Martinez impressed Giants manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Dave Righetti with a great spring this year when he unexpectedly earned a spot on the roster as a long reliever beating out Luis Perdomo and Justin Miller.

The Giants may be expecting Martinez to be a secret weapon. In five minor league seasons, he has a 39-29 record with a 3.40 ERA and a very solid 3.94 strikeout to walk ratio. His WHIP is 1.16.

Andrew Baggarly of the the San Jose Mercury News quotes Giants manager Bruce Bochy as stating, "He's back throwing the ball the way he was when he made the club."

Fans who were watching the live broadcast or have seen the video of Joe Martinez getting hit in the head by Mike Cameron on April 9, were shocked by the graphic nature of the blow to the head. To see him return to the team and start the game on Wednesday will be a tremendous relief. The 26 year old Martinez will have a lot of folks pulling for him when he takes the hill for his third career game at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros.

Martinez pitched 5 strong innings in Houston and left with a 7-3 lead.

If Joe Martinez does not impress the Giants brass after about 3-4 starts, they are likely to look to Kevin Pucetas, who is 10-3, 3.76 after 22 starts at AAA Fresno this year. Both Pucetas and Madison Bumgarner are considered to be the top pitching prospects in the Giants minor league system.

Source:

Andrew Baggarly, "Joe Martinez Officially to be Activated, Start Wednesday," San Jose Mercury News.