Veteran Right-Hander Chris Martin Calls It a Career After 11 MLB Seasons

Veteran reliever Chris Martin has decided to hang up his spikes, bringing a close to an unconventional and resilient 11-season Major League Baseball career. According to reports from Robert Murray of FanSided, the right-hander is stepping away from the game after struggling through injuries and a brief return to the Texas Rangers organization.

Martin's path to the majors is well-documented for its twists and turns. Initially drafted by the Detroit Tigers out of high school in 2004 and later by the Colorado Rockies, shoulder labrum surgery and an undrafted status in 2006 briefly forced him out of the game entirely. During his time away from professional sports, he worked odd jobs at UPS, Lowe's, and an appliance warehouse. A casual game of catch behind the warehouse eventually sparked a comeback, leading him through independent ball, a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2011, and a dominant two-year stint in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Over his major league tenure, Martin pitched for seven different clubs, most notably capturing a World Series title with Atlanta in 2021. Known for his elite control, he finished his big-league career appearing in 434 games with a 3.53 ERA, 409 strikeouts, and just 55 walks, accumulating over $48 million in career earnings.

What to watch next: Transition plans for the veteran reliever as he steps away from professional baseball following his release in August.