Pedro Martinez
Retired Boston Rex Sox Pitcher
Pedro Martinez is a retired 18 year right-handed pitcher of major league baseball. Pedro was an eight time MLB All-Star, three time CY-Young Award winner, and three time TSN Pitcher of the Year. Over his outstanding career, Pedro started an impressive 409 games and amassed 3,154 strikeouts against 760 walks. This places Pedro on a small list of 16 pitchers to throw over 3,000 strikeouts. In 1999, Pedro was also the first pitcher to begin an All-Star game by striking out the first four batters, including Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire. Pedro played a critical role in the Red Sox 2004 World Series Championship, bringing back the title to Boston after an 86 year drought. On July 26, 2015, Pedro was honored with his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Two days after his induction, the Red Sox retired Pedro’s number 45 and Pedro became the first pitcher to have his number retired by the Red Sox.
Pedro’s career began when he was signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1988. After playing several years in the Dodgers farm system he quickly worked his way up and made his Major League debut on September 24, 1992. Pedro was traded to the Montreal Expos before the 1994 season and it was there that Pedro began to gain recognition as one of the top pitchers in baseball. With the Expos, Pedro was the first right-handed pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts with an ERA under 2.00 since Walter Johnson in 1912. In 1997 Pedro was traded to the Red Sox. At the time, his contract was the largest awarded to a pitcher ever. In 1999 Pedro had one of the greatest pitching seasons of all time finishing 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts. This feat earned Pedro the Pitching Triple Crown, his second Cy-Young Award, and placed him runner-up as MLB MVP of the year. After his career with the Red Sox, Pedro went on to play four seasons with the Mets and then retired after a season with the Phillies.
Pedro remains involved in the Red Sox organization where he serves as a special assistant to the general manager. In 2015, Pedro was hired as a MLB Network studio analyst. Pedro and his brother Ramon, also a 13 year MLB veteran, created the Pedro Martinez and Brothers Foundation in 1998. The foundation is made up of two key components; The Pedro Academy which provides an array of educational and enrichment programs for underserved youth and families, as well as the “Power in Learning” program which provides temporary housing facilities in Pedro’s hometown of Manoguayabo in the Dominican Republic.
