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{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name = Martín Maldonado
| name = bucket Joy
| image = Martin Maldonado Angels 2018.jpg
| image = Martin Maldonado Angels 2018.jpg
| image_size = 240
| image_size = 240

Revision as of 01:50, 18 November 2022

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Maldonado and the second or maternal family name is Valdés.

bucket Joy
Maldonado with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018
Houston Astros – No. 15
Catcher
Born: (1986-08-16) August 16, 1986 (age 38)
Naguabo, Puerto Rico[1]
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Puerto Rico
World Baseball Classic
Silver medal – second place 2013 San Francisco Team

Martín Benjamín Maldonado Valdés (born August 16, 1986) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) . He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs.

The Angels selected Maldonado in the 27th round of the 2004 MLB draft, and he made his MLB in 2011 as a member of the Brewers. In 2017, he both won a Gold Glove and a Fielding Bible Award. The New York Times described him in October 2021, following a season in which Maldonado batted .172, as “arguably the worst hitter in baseball,” and Sports Illustrated wrote that "he quite possibly could be the worst-hitting everyday player in MLB history."[2][3]

Maldonado with the Astros he has been the backstop for two American League (AL) pennant-winning teams. He is one of two catchers in Astros' franchise history to catch multiple no-hitters: the first in 2019, and the second in 2022. Both were combined no-hitters, and he became the first in major league history to catch more than one combined no-hitters.[4]

Professional career

Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels

Maldonado was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 27th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He played his first professional season for the rookie-level Arizona League Angels that year, and batted .217/.277/.233.[5]

In 2005, he again played for Arizona, and also played for the rookie-level Orem Owlz. After he played one more season for the Arizona Angels in 2006, in which he batted .222/.329/.270, he was released.[5]

Milwaukee Brewers

Maldonado with the Brewers in 2011

In 2007, Maldonado signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and played for the West Virginia Power of the Class A South Atlantic League, batting .221/.309/.288. In 2008, he played for the Brevard County Manatees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and the Huntsville Stars of the Class AA Southern League, batting a combined .229/.290/.313.[6]

He began the 2009 season with the Manatees, and was called up to the Nashville Sounds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League at mid-season. However, he returned to the Manatees to finish out the season. In 2009 he batted a combined .201/.295/.257.[5] On defense, he was charged with a combined 17 passed balls in 93 games.[5]

Maldonado played the majority of 2010 with Nashville, but also spent time with Huntsville and Brevard County. On defense, he was charged with a combined 13 passed balls in 96 games.[5]

He made his Major League debut on September 3, 2011. He played in 3 games for the Brewers after his callup, striking out in his only at bat.

Maldonado was called up to the Brewers again in May 2012 when starting catcher Jonathan Lucroy went down with a freak hand injury, due to his wife dropping a suitcase on it. In 2012 with Nashville he batted .198/.270/.347.[5] He played 78 games for the Brewers in 2012.

Maldonado with the Brewers in 2013

In 2013 he batted .169/.236/.284 for the Brewers.[5] His .169 batting average was the lowest of all major leaguers with 200 or more plate appearances.[7]

Maldonado was involved in an unusual play in which he hit the cover off a baseball. In a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 18, 2014, Maldonado hit a ground ball to third base. By the time Pirates third baseman Pedro Álvarez fielded the grounder, the cover had partially come off the baseball and was hanging off its side; Álvarez threw the ball to first but it fell apart in midair, and made it to first only after several hops; Maldonado was awarded an infield hit.[8]

Two days later Maldonado punched Pirate outfielder Travis Snider in the face in Pittsburgh, leaving Snider with a cut under a black eye.[9] He was suspended for five games, and fined $2,500, which with the suspension resulted in him losing $16,200.[10][11][12]

On May 31, 2015, Maldonado caught a 17-inning game and also hit his first walk-off home run, in the bottom of the 17th against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2015, he batted .210/.282/.293, and committed nine errors, third-most among NL catchers.[13]

In 2016, he batted .202/.332/.351 for the Brewers. His seven errors were fourth-most among AL catchers.[13]

Second stint with Angels

On December 13, 2016, Maldonado and pitcher Drew Gagnon were traded to the Los Angeles Angels for catcher Jett Bandy.[14] Maldonado was named the Angels’ starting catcher and in 2017 played in a career-high 138 games, batting .221 with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs. He won a 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Award.[15]

Houston Astros

On July 26, 2018, the Angels traded Maldonado to the Houston Astros in exchange for pitcher prospect Patrick Sandoval and international pool space cash.[16] His 13 passed balls were second-most among AL catchers. In the 2018 postseason he batted .105/.150/.316. He became a free agent on October 29.[17]

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals signed Maldonado nearly half a year later to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on March 11, 2019, following a season-ending elbow injury to catcher Salvador Pérez.[18] Maldonado batted .227/.291/.366 over 74 games for the Royals.[13]

Chicago Cubs

On July 15, the Royals traded Maldonado to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery.[19] He had 11 at bats with the Cubs, in which he failed to get a hit.[5] He remained with the team a total of 16 days.[20]

Second stint with Houston Astros

2019

On July 31, 2019, the Cubs traded Maldonado to the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Tony Kemp.[20] Maldonado caught a combined no-hitter versus the Seattle Mariners on August 3, 2019, hurled by Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris, Joe Biagini, and Chris Devenski.[21][22]

For Houston, Maldonado batted .202/.316/.464. In 98 plate appearances in 27 games he hit six home runs, drew 13 walks, and scored 20 runs with just 17 hits for a run-scoring percentage of 56%. On defense, he threw out one-of-11 attempted base-stealers.[13]

He hit his first career home run in World Series play in Game 2 in the ninth inning versus Washington Nationals reliever Javy Guerra in a 12–3 Houston defeat.[23]

2020

On December 23, 2019, Maldonado signed a two-year contract with the Astros, worth $7 million.[24] In 2020, he batted .215/.350/.378 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 135 at bats, drawing 27 bases on balls in 165 plate appearances, and striking out 51 times (38% of the time). In the postseason, he batted .171/.275/.314, as he struck out 18 times in 35 at bats (51% of the time).[13]

2021

On April 21, 2021, Maldonado agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract extension with the Astros, with a $5 million vesting option for the 2023 season.[25]

In 2021, Maldonado batted .172/.272/.300 in 373 at bats. His .172 batting average was the lowest of all AL players with 200 or more plate appearances.[26][27] He struggled especially in the clutch; in games that were late and close, he batted .089/.226/.178.[28] He was the second-slowest catcher in major league baseball, and the slowest player on the Astros, with a sprint speed of 23.5 feet/second.[29] His .195 batting average for the three years of 2019-21 was the lowest of all major leaguers with 800 or more plate appearances.[9]

Sportswriter Tom Verducci observed: "He is a 35-year-old catcher with a career .212 batting average over more than 2,900 plate appearances. Only three other players in history ever stuck around for that many plate appearances by hitting so poorly: [pitcher] Cy Young and two famously inept hitting catchers, Bill Bergen and Jeff Mathis."[30] The New York Times described him in October 2021, following a season in which Maldonado batted .172, as “arguably the worst hitter in baseball,” and Sports Illustrated wrote that "he quite possibly could be the worst-hitting everyday player in MLB history."[2][3]

He had career-highs of 47 bases on balls and 127 strikeouts (striking out 34% of the time). On defense, his eight errors were second-most among AL catchers. He ranked fourth among all AL fielders in putouts (1,058). Among catchers, he also placed second in putouts (1,049), third in total zone runs as calculated by Baseball-Reference (five), fourth in assists (44), second in double plays turned (nine), second in caught stealing percentage (39.6%), and first in runners caught stealing (19).[13] He was a Gold Glove finalist at catcher.[31]

In the 2021 ALDS, Maldonado batted .067/.067/.067.[13] He batted .071 in the ALCS.[13] In Game 5 of the World Series versus the Atlanta Braves, Maldonado was 1-for-3 with 3 RBI, helping to rally the Astros to a 9–5 win in an elimination game.[32]

2022

On May 6, 2022, Maldonado homered in the second inning versus the Detroit Tigers, providing the eventual decisive run in a 3–2 Astros win.[33] Batting .116 entering the May 19 game, Maldonado doubled in eighth inning versus the Texas Rangers to provide insurance runs in a 5–1 Astros win.[34]

On June 15, Maldonado was behind the plate for immaculate innings authored by Luis Garcia and Phil Maton, in the second and seventh inning, respectively. Each struck out the trio of Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran, and Brad Miller of the Rangers at Globe Life Field. It was the first major league game featuring more than one immaculate inning (and the first time more than was thrown on the same date in the major leagues). Maldonado, the catcher for each of Houston's strikeouts – 14 in all – doubled and homered in a 9–2 Astros win.[35]

On June 25, 2022, Maldonado caught a combined no-hitter of the New York Yankees, delivered by Cristian Javier, Héctor Neris, and Ryan Pressly. It was the 14th no-hitter in Astros history.[36] Maldonado became the first player to catch more than one combined no-hitter; he previously caught a combined no-hitter for the Astros on August 3, 2019.[37] With Maldonado behind the plate the following game, José Urquidy started the contest with 6+1⁄3 hitless innings versus the Yankees until a Giancarlo Stanton home run. The no-hit streak spanned 16+1⁄3 innings, tying an expansion-era record by the 1981 Astros pitching staff versus the 1981 Dodgers.[a][39]

Oh July 2, Maldonado homered twice, including once versus Patrick Sandoval, whom the Astros traded to acquire him in 2018, to lead a 9–1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.[40] The following game, Maldonado was behind the plate for 20 strikeouts by Astros pitching, including the first six innings by Framber Valdez, Neris (7th), Rafael Montero (8th), and Pressly (9th), establishing a new franchise record for a nine-inning contest.[41][b][42] Maldonado caught a shutout of the Oakland Athletics on July 16 and hit his third career grand slam to lead a 5–0 win.[43]

A start against the Atlanta Braves on August 21 was Maldonado's 90th appearance of the season, triggering a $4.5 million ($4.7 million today) vesting option for the 2023 season.[44] On September 5, Maldonado caught a 1–0 shutout of Texas with Hunter Brown hurling the first six innings and winning his major league debut. Maldonado singled home the game's only run.[45] He scored four runs in a game for the first time on September 18, also hitting a home run, driving in four runs, and tying his career high with four hits, in an 11–2 win versus Oakland.[46]

In 2022, he batted .186/.248/.352 with 116 strikeouts in 344 at bats.[47] He reached career-highs of 15 home runs and 45 RBIs.[13] He again struggled especially in the clutch; in games that were late and close, he batted .182/.222/.273.[48] His .179 batting average for the two years of 2021-22 was the lowest of all major leaguers with 800 or more plate appearances.[49] His .209 career batting average was the lowest career average of any nonpitcher over the prior 50 years (minimum 1,000 games).[50] He was the third-slowest catcher in major league baseball, and the slowest player on the Astros, with a sprint speed of 22.4 feet/second.[51][52] On defense, Maldonado appeared in 113 games, third in the AL among catchers, led AL catchers in putouts (1,025), assists (49), and passed balls (9). He tied for fifth in baserunners caught stealing (16), as he caught 26% of runners, and tied his career high with 46 stolen bases allowed.[53][13] Astros pitching registered a 2.90 earned run average (ERA), a franchise record over a 162-game season, and the bullpen led the major leagues with a 2.80 ERA.[c][54]

Following the regular season, Maldonado was recognized with the Darryl Kile Award due to his cooperation with the media following games, providing salient insight, and for his handling of one of the most successful pitching staffs in baseball.[55] He received nomination for the AL Silver Slugger Award at catcher.[56] During the Astros' postseason run to the World Series championship Maldonado started 10 of 13 games. After winning the World Series, he revealed that he had sustained a fractured hand and sports hernia on separate occasions in the month of August, but elected to continue to play through the injuries.[57]

Defense and preparation

He's the glue of our team. He's one of the main leaders of our clubhouse, and his preparation is unmatched. His want and will to win, you can feel it. ... [He is] the MVP of our season.

—Lance McCullers Jr., starting pitcher and teammate in Houston[58]

He spent his first six seasons as a backup catcher in Milwaukee.[58] Maldonado's throwing arm has attracted praise, as he dispatched 19 of 48 would-be basestealers during the 2021 season, the fourth-best caught-stealing percentage in the league. When it came to his framing, however, he has been rated a below-average pitch framer; in October 2020 Fangraphs rated him -2.1 in framing, worse than the average catcher, and Baseball Savant rated him the 38th percentile of MLB catchers in framing.[59] Primarily known for his defense and pitch-calling, as of 2021 he had not hit well in his career (.290 on-base percentage).[60][13]

In spite of his low offensive productivity, Houston acquired Maldonado at consecutive trade deadlines, pursued him multiple times in free agency, and signed him to a contract extension in 2021. Astros teammate Carlos Correa lauded his dedication and meticulousness in preparation of the pitching staff. During his Gold-Glove winning campaign in Los Angeles in 2017 Maldonado first made an impression on McCullers, causing him to repeatedly urge then-Astros manager A. J. Hinch to acquire the veteran catcher.[58]

See also

References

Footnotes
  1. ^ Per the Elias Sports Bureau (ESB). Reliable data for individual innings is available starting in 1961. The 1973 Athletics were also held hitless for a 16+1⁄3-inning stretch by the 1973 Rangers and 1973 Twins.[38]
  2. ^ Astros pitching also established a record by becoming the first team in major league history to record 48 strikeouts over a three-game series without playing extra innings.
  3. ^ Only the 1981 club posted a lower ERA, at 2.66, over an entire season, which was shortened to 110 games due to the players’ strike.
Sources
  1. ^ Wagner, James (October 18, 2021). "A.L.C.S. Provides a 'Moment of Pride' for Puerto Rico" – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ a b Hoffman, Benjamin (October 27, 2021). "How the Astros Won Game 2 of the World Series". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Martell, Matt. "There's No Stopping Houston's Hitters". Sports Illustrated.
  4. ^ "10 amazing stats from Astros' combined no-no". MLB.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Martin Maldonado Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  6. ^ "Martin Maldonado Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History".
  7. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2013 » Batters » Advanced Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". fangraphs.com.
  8. ^ Brooke, Tyler. "Martin Maldonado Hits Cover off Ball and Baffles Pirates' 3B Pedro Alvarez". Bleacher Report.
  9. ^ a b "Travis Snider suffers cut under eye during brawl Sunday". CBS Sports.
  10. ^ Gaines, Cork. "Brewers Player Received An Incredibly Light Penalty For Punching Opponent In The Face". Business Insider.
  11. ^ "Martín Maldonado Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. September 21, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  12. ^ Cork Gaines (April 22, 2014). "Brewers Player Received An Incredibly Light Penalty For Punching Opponent In The Face". Business Insider. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Martin Maldonado stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  14. ^ Hoornstra, J.P. (December 13, 2016). "Angels deal Jett Bandy to Brewers, acquire catcher Martin Maldonado". ocregister. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  15. ^ "Andrelton Simmons and Martin Maldonado win Rawlings Gold Glove Awards". MLB.com.
  16. ^ ESPN.com News Services (July 26, 2018). "Astros get Gold Glove winner Martin Maldonado from Angels". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Martín Maldonado Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  18. ^ "Maldonado, Royals finalize $2.5M, 1-year contract". Sports.yahoo.com. March 11, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  19. ^ "Cubs land Maldonado, deal Montgomery to KC". MLB.com. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  20. ^ a b McTaggart, Brian (July 31, 2019). "Astros bring back catcher Maldonado". MLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  21. ^ "Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros box score". Baseball-Reference.com. August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  22. ^ Atkins, Hunter (August 3, 2019). "Astros pitchers toss combined no-hitter against Mariners". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  23. ^ "2019 World Series Game 2, Nationals at Astros". Baseball-Reference.com. October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  24. ^ "Maldonado back to Astros on 2-year deal". December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  25. ^ "Astros sign Martin Maldonado to one-year extension". MLB Trade Rumors.
  26. ^ "American League Leaderboards » 2021 » Batters » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
  27. ^ "2021 American League Standard Batting". Baseball-Reference.com.
  28. ^ "Martin Maldonado 2021 Batting Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  29. ^ "Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com.
  30. ^ Verducci, Tom. "How Baker, Strom and Maldonado Seized the ALCS From Boston". Sports Illustrated.
  31. ^ Adler, David (October 28, 2021). "Gold Glove finalists unveiled". MLB.com. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  32. ^ Feinsand, Mark (November 1, 2021). "Maldonado breaks out with 3-RBI game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  33. ^ "McCormick, Maldonado homers propel Astros past Tigers 3–2". ESPN.com. May 6, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  34. ^ "Astros continue home dominance against Rangers with 5–1 win". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 19, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  35. ^ "Houston Astros' Luis Garcia, Phil Maton first in recorded history to throw immaculate innings in one game". ESPN.com. ESPN News Service. June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  36. ^ ESPN.com News Services (June 25, 2022). "Cristian Javier, Houston Astros bullpen combine for no-hitter vs. New York Yankees". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
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  44. ^ Rome, Chandler (August 21, 2022). "Astros catcher Martín Maldonado's 2023 contract option kicks in". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  45. ^ "Brown dazzles in MLB debut, Astros edge skidding Rangers 1–0". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  46. ^ ESPN (September 18, 2022). "Valdez has MLB-record 25th quality start, Astros down A's". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
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  48. ^ "Martin Maldonado 2022 Batting Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
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  51. ^ "Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com.
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  55. ^ McTaggart, Brian (October 8, 2022). "Alvarez named Astros MVP by Houston BBWAA: Verlander named team Pitcher of the Year; Peña, Maldonado also honored". MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  56. ^ Criswell, Josh (October 27, 2022). "5 Astros named Silver Slugger finalists". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  57. ^ Rome, Chandler (November 5, 2022). "Astros catcher Martín Maldonado plays with broken hand, hernia to win World Series". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  58. ^ a b c Rome, Chandler (October 7, 2021). "Forget his stats: Martín Maldonado has been the glue that's helped pave Astros' playoff path". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  59. ^ "Let's examine Martin Maldonado's value to the Astros in 2021". SportsMap. October 28, 2020.
  60. ^ "The curious ripple effects of the Cubs' trade for Martin Maldonado". Sports.yahoo.com. July 16, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
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