Current Red Sox players who may have a Hall of Fame future
By Rick McNair
Longevity is a keyword when looking at one of the premier hitters in baseball – J.D. Martinez. Times are changing for those relegated to designated hitter and David Ortiz will soon be in the HOF. Ortiz was no stiff at first base, either.
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Baseball is a numbers game and so far the right-handed Martinez is getting quite a foundation, especially in the consistency department. Martinez averages out to 35 home runs and 108 RBI a season and that is Jim Rice like consistency. Will it continue?
Martinez apparently will be around for three more seasons in Boston unless market conditions dictate an opt-out clause is exercised. Martinez is a perfect fit for a ballpark as Fenway’s good hitting dynamics are a perfect fit for all field’s power of Martinez, but J.D. is not a one park pony with a career .288 road average.
Longevity is important in examining Martinez’s chances for the HOF, but his diligent approach to the science of hitting and his conditioning traits are positives for another five years or longer for production. Then there is the known. As with Rice as a comparison, Martinez has a history of back ailments and they are certainly potential career disruptors. With Rice, it was a fading vision.
A healthy Martinez for five seasons can surpass Rice’s numbers and with a solid lineup, the Red Sox usually has run possibilities that will always be present. What Martinez also has is the ability to hit for average and not just power. This is not Giancarlo Stanton.