FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A lot has changed for J.D. Martinez. This was a kid, after all, who graduated Charles Flanagan High with just 175 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame, and the proud owner of one home run in his senior year. That was 12 years, 60 pounds and 152 major league homers ago.
"I was a twig," Martinez remembered. "A strong breeze would have blown me over."
There was something there, however. Something that had already taken root and would ultimately start blossoming with years of questions and answers. Martinez really liked the science that went behind hitting. It was just his thing. It's why he loved listening and learning to former big league catcher Paul Casanova, who became one of the South Florida teenager's first mentors when it came to hitting a ball with a bat.
"I've always been intrigued by it because I've always loved to hit," he said. "It's always been my passion."
Now, all these years after that one home run season, Martinez resides on the Red Sox with a reputation. It's one that stretches beyond just the ability to hit the ball out of the park. He is almost best known as the guy who will bend minds with talk of hitting a baseball. "I would just be in awe," said former Red Sox Deven Marrero, explaining those times the slugger would come over to talk hitting with the infielder and his housemate, San Diego first baseman.
"I love it. I love it because I learn so much from talking to the guys. I could sit here and tell you all the little things I learn from hitters, all the little tricks. It's really cool," Martinez said. "I get that because I talk hitting because you find yourself in the conversation."
But through all the stories of behind-the-scenes work, perhaps the most telling moments come once Martinez becomes visible with a helmet on his head and a bat in his hand. The fan sees a Red Sox player who offers middle-of-the-order hope. What they are really witnessing is one of the most intriguing routines an at-bat can offer.
IN THE HOLE
The term is used to describe where a player who is two spots away from getting his turn at-bat resides. In the big leagues, that usually means standing somewhere near the dugout steps leading to the field. It is here Martinez starts his process.
"When I'm on the pole next to [Red Sox manager Alex] Cora, I'm sitting there just visualizing what I'm trying to do," he said. " When I'm doing that and I can just focus on that, that's when I'm at my best. When I'm up there worrying about my mechanics and not focused on that, it doesn't end well most of the time."
It's why, as Martinez explains it, spring training has never been kind to him. Not enough time to focus on the important thing, which is the mental side of the equation. This is the reality he came to learn right around when the righty hitter's swing was altered four years ago, Martinez starting to dive into books that everything to do with approaching the psychology of success and nothing to do with the act of playing baseball.
Martinez's fascination with hitting led him to a new hobby, trying to decipher how to remain in "the zone," the place where a performer can seemingly do no wrong. Control the heart rate. Quiet the mind. Push out negative thoughts. Even before the on-deck circle is approached, these things have become a priority.
"I like it. I'm really intrigued by it," he said. "The zone is one of those things that when you're in it you don't talk about it because you don't know you're in it. You just kind of ride it out. The moment you know you know you're in the zone, you're no longer in it. If you feel any pressure out there or any anxiety or extra adrenaline, you're out of it."
Martinez values the feeling so much that when in play it wins out over one of his favorite things, talking hitting.
"There are times I don't want to talk about it, honestly," he said of discussing his own hitting. "Nothing annoys me more than when I'm doing really well and the media comes throws stats at me. 'You're about to tie this record,' and stuff like that. What am I supposed to say? That just gets my blood going. When I walk in and I'm feeling good I hate talking hitting. With anybody. To me, the zone is that place where you don't talk about it. Because when you talk about it it goes away.
"If it's about pitchers I'm all for it. If it's about mechanics, I'm out, bro. I'll help them out. If somebody is struggling on our team I'll try and help them out. But if somebody wants to know what I'm thinking when I'm going good … come on."
ON-DECK
Martinez's routine while waiting for his turn at-bat would seem to be boilerplate stuff. Swing a bat around a few times, perhaps with the assistance of some added weight, with a little stretching mixed in. All of it is eye-wash. The physical actions in the on-deck circle are of little to no consequence.
"It's all about getting my mind right. 100 percent. That's the No. 1 priority," he said. "What does he have? OK, now I have my game-plan. Now the priority is controlling my mind and controlling my emotions so I can stick to that game-plan. I'm prioritizing my game-plan. It's 100 percent mental.
"Now I've taken 20 at-bats off the guy even before I've gone up there. That's the mindset."
By the time Martinez finds himself standing on the field, awaiting his turn, another challenge is to forget what might have happened, or what could happen. There are other times to reflect, as is evident in watching him wait out pitches in the outfield. Watch Martinez man his position and you might very well see a guy hitting his fist into his hip, subtly reminding where a piece of his swing might have gone awry.
But by the time he is ready to be re-introduced to the pitcher, it's all about what is happening at that moment.
"You have to be in the present," he said. "The here and now. Not in the future. Not in the past. Here today, talking to you about hitting."
THE AT-BAT
There are a lot of bits and pieces that go into Martinez's approach once staring down at a pitcher. But there are two philosophies that may serve as the foundation for the entire entity.
"Never say don't do it," he noted. "The moment I say don't swing a pitch inside, don't swing at a pitch outside, don't swing at a pitch down, I swing one of those pitches. Reinforce what you're going to do, not what don't want to do."
And ...
"I've had some big hits in my career, and there have been other times I've been up in situations where I've had the opportunity for big hits and I didn't get them. The one similarity is that the moment you're in the box and you're telling yourself, 'I hope I come through. I want to come through. Don't mess this up.' You might as well go back to the dugout because you're out," Martinez added. "The moment you let that creep in you're done. It's crazy how that works."
As for the actual approach, perhaps one of the more unique elements Martinez incorporates is how he views two-strike pitches.
Before relaying his thoughts on the situation, he admits that one might take it with a grain of salt considering his lack of success with two strikes. In two-strike counts last season, Martinez hit just .177, although there were 14 homers hit.
But, nonetheless, he is dug in on his approach, which goes against what most every Little League coach continues to pass along.
"I can't talk because I'm not a great two-strike hitter, but I just know for me the pitcher wants me to chase. They're going to get me to try and chase. So why am going to protect? I should be like, 'No, I'm going to shrink (the strike zone),' because the chances of me chasing are far more than me letting a strike three go by," Martinez explained. "So I've adapted so I shrink the strike zone with two strikes, because I know I would chase. Why are they going to throw them over the plate with something I can hit. They would rather see if I bite, see if chase for weak contact, instead of playing in the zone where they know I can hurt them."
There's much, much more to Martinez. That is clear. But knowing what is going on in his head during those moments that matter should be of some interest. When there is that much success, such things should be paid attention to. "It has definitely evolved," he said. "That's for sure."
