Angel Martinez’s ‘exponential growth’ has Guardians manager excited
CLEVELAND — The way Angel Martinez is hitting right now, Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt could throw a dart at the batting order and the third-year pro would produce.
The 24-year-old has hit in every spot in the order for the Guardians this season except third and fifth. More often than not, he has produced.
Martinez probably didn’t want the week to end as he was a huge part of Cleveland’s success.
“From the time I met him in spring 2024 to now, I mean, it’s exponential growth,” Vogt said. “He’s cerebral. Man, he’s an instinctual baseball player. And just the hustle double, the understanding, the ability to play all three outfield positions, to be a good baserunner and good base stealer, Angel’s really grown into a really good player.
“We just need to keep pushing him. We need to keep helping him grow faster and faster.”
The May 16 game against the Cincinnati Reds highlighted just how special Martinez has been. He went 2-for-4 with a double, a game-winning home run, two RBIs and three runs scored to help the Guardians rally from a 4-2 deficit.
The game-winner came in the seventh when he sent Pierce Johnson’s 2-1 pitch 395 feet to right center to snap a 4-4 tie and send the Guardians to a 7-4 win.
“We coach here,” Vogt said. “We coach, we teach, we talk about mistakes, we talk about learning lessons. So as far as tutoring goes, once the game starts, we just let them play.”
Angel Martinez’s teammates have seen all-star material all along
Guardians starter Joey Cantillo said Martinez will be an All-Star sooner rather than later.
Entering the final game of a three-game series with the Reds, Martinez was 5-for-15 with a double, three home runs, five RBIs, a walk and six runs scored this week. He also stole three bases. That’s a slash of .333/.400/1.067.
“Honestly, I’m not trying to get too high,” Martinez said. “You’re having a good day, you have a good week, good month. This game can humble you really quick. So, honestly, I’m just enjoying the moment. What happened today, it doesn’t matter tomorrow.”
Angel Martinez’s 2026 season has been outstanding
His tomorrows have been adding up this season.
Martinez leads the team in home runs (eight) and slugging percentage (.496) and is second in total bases (69), OPS (.843) and stolen bases (eight).
He’s also third in batting average (.266), RBIs (22) and doubles (eight).
“Angel has historically hit offspeed pretty well left-handed, but he’s hitting fastballs this year, too,” Vogt said. “Guess what that does? That earns you offspeed in the zone. … Angel just continues to develop. We have to keep pushing him. We have to keep pushing him to get better and better.”
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians’ Angel Martinez having breakout season
