J.D. Martinez’s debut season with the Mets will reportedly begin in the minor leagues.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Martinez and the Mets decided that there wasn’t enough time for the 36-year-old to get enough at-bats under his belt before the season, with Opening Day less than a week away, so when New York takes on the Brewers in their season opener on Thursday, Martinez will be in the minors.
The six-time All-Star signed a one-year deal on Thursday night, addressing a major area of need for the Mets at DH. But it will reportedly still take some time before Martinez can slot in for New York in the middle of its lineup and provide some protection for Pete Alonso.
Per Sherman, the stint in the minor leagues will likely be 10 days. The Triple-A season begins next Friday.