J.D. Martinez was named National League Player of the Week for the period of September 18-24, joining Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Max Muncy, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts in receiving the honor this season.
Muncy was named NL Player of the Week for April 17-23, Freeman earned the honor for July 31-August 6, and Betts from August 21-27. Freeman (May) and Betts (August) also won NL Player of the Month honors this season.
For Martinez, it’s an 11th time in his career he’s been named Player of the Week. Of those, eight came in American League and three in the NL. He last earned Player of the Week honors in October of the 2022 season as a member of the Boston Red Sox.
Martinez’s latest recognition came after batting .458/.500/1.208 with three doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI and three walks while starting in each of the Dodgers’ seven games. He played an instrumental role in the team going 5-2 during that span and clinching a spot in the NL Division Series.
Also during that time frame, Martinez had five multi-hit games and led the Majors in RBI, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging (1.708), extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (29). He additionally tied for the MLB in home runs, and tied for second in all of baseball with 11 hits during the week.
On top of the production at the plate, Martinez appeared to be much healthier than when he went multiple weeks of attempting to play through a nagging left groin/adductor/hamstring injury.
In 15 games since coming off the injured list, Martinez is batting .375/.422/.768 with four doubles, six home runs and 20 RBI.
“It just sucks when you’re off and on, off and on,” Martinez said last week. “It’s tough to get into a rhythm or a groove. So the biggest thing for me is being in every day, playing every single day, getting that timing, and getting all that stuff.”
J.D. Martinez pokes fun at Astros
When reflecting on his career after playing against the Detroit Tigers, the All-Star designated hitter joked about his time with the club being superior to being with the Houston Astros.
“I love Detroit,” Martinez began. “Can’t say that about Houston — just playing — but Detroit I love. They were the team that gave me a chance when no one else did. They were the only ones knocking back in 2014 when I was released, so they always have a special place in my heart.
“Seeing all the familiar faces in BP and everything like that and saying hi to all of them. It’s cool.”
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