Red Sox fans will finally get a real look at J.D. Martinez on Wednesday.
The outfielder, who last week signed a five-year, $110 million contract, will be in left field when the Red Sox take on the Twins at JetBlue Park at 1 p.m. It will be his Red Sox debut.
Before the game, manager Alex Cora discussed his excitement over seeing Martinez in action.
"We've been on the road so much since he has signed, we haven't been able to connect," Cora said. "To have him in the lineup, have him in the dugout, that's good not only for me, but for everybody."
Martinez has been getting his reps on back fields, and on Tuesday he homered against teammate Rick Porcello.
"He has faced some good competition," Cora said. "The only difference is the stadium and he's playing defense. But this is a guy who works on his craft. His whole week, watching video, in the cage, hitting outside, asking for live BP, he prepares. There's a reason for that.
"He was designated for assignment four years ago and now he's in the middle of the lineup for the Boston Red Sox with a team that has a chance to win the World Series. There's no coincidence he's been successful the last few years because he's found it and he keeps working on it. It's just part of his preparation."
Martinez will DH on Thursday before getting Friday off. Cora touched on what makes him such a force, months after he capped off a 45-homer season between Detroit and Arizona.
"He hits for average, too," Cora said. "It's not just a swing-and-miss guy, it's not just hit homers. It's his approach and ability to hit the ball the other way and that makes him special. I think in an era that you don't hit for average, but you hit for power and that's a good player, well for me a player that can hit for power and hit for average is a better player. Because there's certain at-bats that – and I get that strikeouts, they're outs, but are they only outs? With a man at third and less than two outs, is it only a strikeout? No. I'd rather him hit a ball in the air and make contact, and he can do that. I think that's what makes him special."
