Ray Martinez played a lot in 1990 for single-A Quad City. He also played in multiple positions, all four on the infield, The Moline Dispatch wrote.
"I thought I could be an everyday player, but the role I've played allows me a lot of opportunity to serve the team in the best way possible," Martinez told The Dispatch that August of his versatility. "It's been fun so far and I enjoy winning."
Martinez eventually served a lot of baseball clubs over his long career, both as a player and, later, as a manager. His playing career, including more than a decade in Mexico, spanned 23 seasons. She then turned hitting coach and manager in the Reds system.
Martinez' career began in 1987, taken by the Angels in the seventh round of the 1987 draft out of Franklin High School in California.
Martinez started with the Angels at short-season Salem. He moved to short-season Bend in 1988, then single-A Palm Springs in 1989. He hit .192 in 103 games at Palm Springs.
He made single-A Quad City for 1990 and hit .226 in 105 games as he played at first, second, third and short. He spent most of his time at third and short.
"That's where I played throughout high school (shortstop) but this has been a good experience for me," Martinez told The Quad-City Times that July. "Later on in my career, this could help because when someone is looking for an infielder at any position, I can play it."
Martinez continued playing multiple infield positions. He played 1991 largely at high-A Palm Springs, then 1992 between AAA Edmonton and AA Midland. He played 1993 at AAA Vancouver. He hit .252 in 114 games there, but didn't see Anaheim.
He played his first season in Mexico in 1994, at Monterrey Industriales. He then saw the Expos system and AAA Ottawa in 1995 and the Angels at Vancouver briefly in 1996.
Martinez then played exclusively in Mexico. He's listed as being born in Brisenas, Mexico. He's credited as playing there through 2009, last playing that year for Reynosa.
By 2012, he was with the Reds, as hitting coach at rookie Billings. He managed in the rookie Arizona League in 2015, then returned to Billings to manage from 2016 to 2019.
"I never got the opportunity to play Major League Baseball, but I had a good long career," Martinez told 406 MT Sports in 2017. "It's my job to see kids develop into better players and eventually major leaguers."
- Quad-City Times, July 21, 1990: An Angel for all positions
- Moline Dispatch, Aug. 7, 1990: Angels 'utilize' versatile infielder Martinez
- 406 MT Sports, May 5, 2017: Ray Martinez: Minding the Mustangs
Made the Majors:1,340-33.2%
Never Made Majors:2,694-66.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:547
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333-X
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