J. D. Martinez Quotes

J. D. Martinez

Profession : Athlete

Birth : August 21, 1987

I'm usually rough during Spring Training. My Spring Training numbers aren't very good, but I never expect them to be.

J. D. Martinez

Just kind of finding it, that's what Spring Training is for, to work on stuff and get ready.

J. D. Martinez

I played street basketball for a while and wanted to play competitively, but I was so used to the street-style of game that I would have fouled out by the end of the first quarter.

J. D. Martinez

I started playing ball when I was 4 years old.

J. D. Martinez

I have so many memories of going fishing and camping as a kid, and my dad had season tickets to watch the Marlins - and that's where I fell in love with the game.

J. D. Martinez

Starting in middle school, I would play on two or three baseball teams at the same time, because that's just how things worked in south Florida. I would practice six or seven days each week. I honestly don't know how my parents did it, but my dad always found a way to make it to each and every game.

J. D. Martinez

It's easy to sit there in the dugout when the game's going on and talk, chitchat about this and that. But I think paying attention, watching the pitcher, watching the game develop, putting yourself in situations you're not even in yet, anticipating the game, stuff like that, I think that really helps you take that extra step.

J. D. Martinez

Learning how to slow the game down is the biggest thing.

J. D. Martinez

I'd say the challenge of DHing is going to be learning the routine and to stay loose and stay warm and kind of be ready for it.

J. D. Martinez

The last thing I wanted to do was get buried in Triple-A behind prospects.

J. D. Martinez

It's so hard to win a World Series.

J. D. Martinez

That's why, to me, Spring Training is so hard, because every time you go up there, there's a new pitcher, and you have to come up with a new plan.

J. D. Martinez

Any time you go into the playoff game everyone's adrenaline is high and tensions are going, stuff like that.

J. D. Martinez

Contrary to everyone's belief of 'J.D. is a launch-angle guy. He wants to get the ball in the air and this and that.' This is true, but you're not trying to force situations, trying to force things.

J. D. Martinez

I don't go up there and try to hit home runs.

J. D. Martinez

I believe that you're a hitter first and you're a slugger second type deal.

J. D. Martinez

To me grinding out a good at-bat is pretty much fighting. And it's not trying to do too much with pitches, just finding a way to spoil a good pitcher's pitches, really.

J. D. Martinez

If a pitcher goes up there and he's throwing a ball and it's a breaking ball down and away or a fastball up and in, a perfect pitcher's pitch, and you're able to just foul it off and stay alive in the at-bat, just keep grinding, keep working through the at-bat and hoping for that mistake that he's going to make. And if he doesn't, then you walk.

J. D. Martinez

I think my failures in Houston is what made me who I am. I think it's given me that drive, that drive to keep working, because you never know what can happen type deal.

J. D. Martinez

I always talk about it like I'm a hitter first and if I'm doing things right and my body's in the right place, I drive the baseball.

J. D. Martinez