Why Ex-Red Sox Slugger Might Take Minor-League At-Bats With Mets

The New York Mets made a significant addition to their lineup Thursday when they signed former Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez to a one-year contract.

His impact for the big-league club, however, will be delayed past Opening Day.

The New York Post's Joel Sherman reported Friday that Martinez will not be on the Mets' Opening Day roster. Martinez instead will spend a week or two in the minor leagues to get his swing ready for game action before joining New York's lineup.

As Red Sox fans likely remember, Martinez usually is extra committed to his offensive approach. Since he hasn't seen live pitching in spring training, the veteran needs time to get back into a rhythm at the plate.

Martinez grew into his role as one of the sport's elite hitters through constant video analysis and swing tweaks. He is the ultimate technician in perfecting his swing, an art he talked about frequently during his Red Sox tenure.

That perfectionist mentality paid off for Martinez, who earned All-Star selections in four of his five seasons with Boston -- a run that included a World Series championship in 2018.

The lone exception came in 2020. That pandemic-shortened season featured a lack of video analysis for the Red Sox, causing Martinez's average to drop to .213 for the year.

"To me, I have a swing that I taught myself to do," Martinez told NESN in a 2018 interview. "I don't have a natural swing. I have to stay on top of it. A lot of old habits and new habits will start creeping in."

While he enters his age-36 season, the slugger still has plenty of pop in his bat after smashing 33 home runs with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.

Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor patiently await his presence in the Mets' lineup to finally give New York's offense the extra layer of power it has needed for years.