J.D Martinez made his much-anticipated spring training debut for the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, going 0-for-2 with two flyouts.
While the Red Sox’s new designated hitter didn’t leave the yard in his first official action, he launched a blast off Rick Porcello in a “controlled” game Tuesday. And he had a hilarious interaction with his new teammate once he returned to the dugout.
“It was a bad pitch,” Porcello said, per WEEI. “I walked into the dugout and J.D. said, ‘You left that one up.’ I just said, ‘I know, J.D.’ ”
Brutally honest.
Martinez has drawn rave reviews from his former manager and Red Sox legend David Ortiz. The 30-year-old slugger will provide some much-needed pop in the middle of a Boston lineup that only hit 168 home runs in 2017 which ranked 27th in Major League Baseball.
In 2017, Martinez hit .303 with 45 home runs and 104 RBI in 119 games with the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
As Porcello learned Tuesday, don’t leave the ball up.
