A new season begins for Kevin, J.D. Martin
By Nathan Ahle, The Daily Independent
A new season began in Major League Baseball this week, and the season
also started for minor league teams across the country. Ridgecrest
natives J.D. and Kevin Martin began their seasons this weekend in the
Cleveland Indians minor league system. Both brothers earned promotion to
a higher level after a successful spring at the Indians' spring training
camp in Winter Haven, Fla.
Kevin, the older of the brothers and a 1997 Burroughs graduate, will
pitch for the Lake County Captains in Eastlake, Ohio. The Captains are a
new franchise, playing in Columbus, Ga. last year as the RedStixx. J.D.
was a member of that team last year, and now Kevin will take his turn
pitching in the full-season South Atlantic League. Kevin pitched for
Dick Adams at Cerro Coso College in Ridgecrest, transferred to the
University of Southern Colorado, and then signed with the Indians in
June of 2001. He pitched last season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers,
going 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA out of the bullpen before moving to the
Buffalo Bisons of the AAA International League to help the Bisons with
their playoff run last September. 2003 will mark Kevin's first year at
the full-season A-ball level.
J.D. will move to Kinston, N.C. to play for the Kinston Indians,
Cleveland's top A-ball team.
A 2001 Burroughs graduate and a first-round supplemental draft pick of
the Indians that same year, J.D. pitched for Columbus in 2002, and was
one of the the RedStixx' most effective starters, going 14-5 with a 3.90
ERA and earning a start in game one of the South Atlantic League
championship series against the Hickory Crawdads.
Former RedStixx manager Torey Lovullo followed J.D. to Kinston, and gave
Martin the ball in the Indians' opening game Friday night.
J.D. pitched the opener at home against Winston-Salem Friday, and took
the loss in a 6-2 defeat, giving up eight hits and five earned runs in 4
2/3 innings. The right-hander also struck out three in his first
performance against Carolina League opponents.
Kevin picked up a save in his first game of the season for the Captains,
pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings Friday night against Kannapolis.
Fans can keep track of the Martins and their seasons on the internet.
J.D.'s Kinston team can be found at www.kinstonindians.com, and fans can
listen to games live from the team's site, or by calling (800) 846-4700
and entering Team Code 2850.
Kevin's Captains team also has an Web site, found at
www.captainsbaseball.com. The team's website features game box scores
and recaps, as well as information on each player.
April 6, 2003
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The Daily Independent.
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