David Ortiz Calls Pedro Martinez 'The Genius,' Thought He Was From NASA

Pedro Martinez: astronaut?

Martinez is widely considered one of the most intelligent pitchers in Major League Baseball history. The former Boston Red Sox ace had the unique ability to outthink hitters, leading to a Hall of Fame career and astonishment from those who played with him, including Red Sox slugger David Ortiz.

“I always say my career has been blessed, after God, being (Martinez’s) teammate, being able to be his teammate because I learned so much from him,” Ortiz told CSNNE’s Jessica Moran on Saturday at Fenway Park. “Pedro wasn’t just a pitcher. I call him ‘The Genius.’ I thought he was from NASA.

“He has something that will turn on the switch, and it doesn’t matter if you were a position player, pitcher, a coach, there was always something you’d learn from Pedro.”

Martinez, who entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson and John Smoltz on Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y., said Saturday he wants to be a “sign of hope” for those looking to better their lives, as he grew up in the Dominican Republic without much money. Ortiz, also a native of the Dominican, certainly can relate to Martinez on some level. The Red Sox designated hitter credits the former major league pitcher with having a positive impact on his career.

“A fun person to be around, a very fun person. I have a lot of respect for my compadre,” Ortiz told Moran. “I call him my big brother because he treated me just like it and I appreciate every single moment of my career playing right next to him.”

Ortiz obviously has had a ton of success since Martinez’s departure following the Red Sox’s 2004 World Series season, so one can’t give Pedro all the credit. Big Papi, the last remaining holdover from Martinez’s days with the Red Sox, still remembers receiving plenty of helpful pointers in the dugout, though. Martinez truly has a special baseball mind.

“He was just throwing knowledge,” Ortiz said. “I would go there looking for that pitch, hit a homer, and running the bases I was like, ‘How does he know that that was going to happen?’ ”

Pedro Martinez: psychic?