Christopher Riley Martin…Chris and wife, Danielle, reside in Weatherford, Texas, with their four kids…owns and operates a ranch in Scotland, Texas called “Texas 4 Seam Ranch”…in the time he was out of baseball from 2007-10, worked several jobs including loading trucks for UPS at DFW Airport and in delivery for Lowe’s Home Improvement and Texas Appliance…is a native of Arlington, Texas, as he and OF Hunter Pence (2019) stand as the only players from Arlington H.S. to appear for the Rangers…was a Rangers fan in his youth…his older sister, Crystal, was an All-Big 12 Conference shortstop in softball at Texas A&M.
2025
After signing a one-year pact with Texas on 1/6, Martin went 2-6 with two saves, 13 holds and a 2.98 ERA (14 ER/42.1 IP) over 49 relief appearances for the Rangers…his career-high six losses were second among TEX relievers (8-Garcia) and tied for eighth-most in the A.L…also ranked among TEX bullpen arms in holds (third), strikeouts (fifth, 43), appearances (fifth) and innings (sixth)…was primarily a one-inning reliever, covering 1.0-or-fewer IP in 43 of his 49 games…tossed a season-high-tying 1.1 IP six times…did not record an out three times (5/13 vs. COL, 5/18 vs. HOU, 6/24), tied-second-most such appearances in MLB behind only teammate Hoby Milner (6)…the departures on 5/13 and 5/18 were due to injury, as he exited with an athletic trainer after throwing one pitch in both cases…missed a total of 55 games while on the 15-day IL on three occasions: 5/19-6/4 (right shoulder fatigue), 7/21-8/31 (left calf strain) and 9/26-end of season (thoracic outlet syndrome)… issued a career-high-tying eight BB (three intentional) on the season but struck out 43 batters for a 5.38 SO/BB figure, the fifth-best mark among qualified A.L. relievers…entered the game in the seventh inning-or-later in 47 of his 49 outings…the only two times Martin entered earlier came in back-to-back games, 9/19-20 vs. MIA (entered in sixth in both)…earned two saves: 3/29 vs. BOS and 6/21 at PIT, one of six Rangers to notch 2+ SV…was scoreless over 11 consecutive games from 5/6-6/21 (8.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 SO), the tied-for-fifth-longest streak of Martin’s career…prior to that span, the last TEX reliever w/ 8.2+ SHO IP, 0 BB and 10+ SO over an 11-game stretch was Joakim Soria in 2014 (10.2 SHO IP, 0 BB, 15 SO)…on 6/24 at BAL, allowed three consecutive home runs (Sánchez/Urías/O’Hearn) in the 7th inn., the first time in his career for Martin to permit back-to-back HR, let alone three consecutive longballs…prior to that appearance, had a 1.48 ERA in 27 games to open season…from 6/24-end of season, had a 5.00 ERA in 22 games…whiffed MIN’s Austin Martin on 9/25 for his 400th career SO.
2024
Posted a 3-1 record, 3.45 ERA (17 ER/44.1 IP), and two saves over 45 games (all in relief) for Boston, leading the Red Sox in holds (15) for the second consecutive season (23 in 2023)… fanned 50 batters, while walking just three (1 IBB) for a 16.67 SO/ BB ratio…led all MLB pitchers (min. 40.0 IP) in walk rate (1.7%), walks per 9.0 (0.61), and SO/BB ratio (16.67), with his his walks per 9.0 and SO/BB marks each ranked first in Red Sox history (min. 40.0 IP), per Elias…faced 131 consecutive hitters without issuing a walk from his final BF on 4/25 at CLE through 9/23 at TOR (38 SO in that span)…the walk-less stretch spanned 33 consecutive full outings, the second-longest streak of his career (36 in 2022) and longest in MLB in 2024…his 1.7% walk rate signified a new career low; the last two lower single-season marks (min. 40.0 IP) were achieved by MIN’s Carlos Silva in 2005 (1.2%) and OAK’s Dennis Eckersley in 1990 (1.5%)… opponents batted .276/.298/.382/.680 (47-170) with just eight of the 47 hits going for extra bases (5 HR, 3 2B)…began the season with four consecutive scoreless outings (4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 SO) from 3/28-4/3 before allowing one ER on 4/5 at LAA – his first run allowed (earned or unearned) since 7/28/23 – to snap his scoreless streak at 24 consecutive games and 23.0 IP, each the longest of his career…permitted 7 ER in April (11.1 IP), after allowing only six ER in all of 2023 (51.1 IP)…endured pair of Injured List stints from 6/5-17 (anxiety) and 7/5-8/6 (right elbow inflammation)…from 6/19-8/30, permitted one ER in 15.0 IP over 16 G (0.60 ERA) to lower season mark from 4.03 to 2.72…Red Sox went 29-16 (.644) in his 45 appearances.
2023
Pitched in 55 games, going 4-1 with 23 holds, a 1.05 ERA (6 ER/51.1 IP), 1.03 WHIP, .237 opponent AVG and 5.75 SO/BB (46 SO, 8 BB)...Finished 12th in Cy Young Award voting after earning a fifth-place vote...Earned the Red Sox’ Fireman Award (top relief pitcher) from the Boston Baseball Writers...Led MLB in ERA (min. 30.0 IP)...His 1.05 mark was his lowest of any full season (1.00 in 19 games in 2020)...Posted the 20th season in the Live Ball Era with at least 50.0 IP and a 1.05 ERA or lower...Of those, only Dennis Eckersley in 1990 also had a walk rate as low as Martin’s 4.0%...Finished the season with an active 20-game scoreless streak (19.0 IP), which began on 7/30 at SF...Is the longest of his career by both games and innings...Allowed just one run over his last 37 outings (33.2 IP), from 6/7 through the end of the season...Posted a 0.27 ERA with 32 SO and 6 BB (3 IBB) during that stretch...Led the Red Sox with a career-high 23 holds, tied for 8th most in the AL...Went 3-for-4 in save opportunities...Posted a walk rate of just 4.0% (8 BB/199 batters faced), 9th lowest in the AL (min. 100 BF)...Had an unintentional walk rate of 2.5% (3 IBB)...Stranded 14 of his 15 inherited runners...Allowed his only inherited runner of the season to score on 6/29 vs. MIA, then stranded each of his final 14...Among 181 pitchers with at least 15 inherited runners, his stranded rate of 93.3% was tied for the third-highest mark in MLB...In 28 games at Fenway Park, posted a 0.35 ERA (1 ER/25.2 IP), the second-lowest home ERA in MLB (min. 25.0 IP; Josh Hader-0.31)...Was the third-lowest single-season relief ERA at Fenway Park (min. 20.0 IP) since earned runs became an official stat in the AL in 1913 and the lowest by a Red Sox reliever...Allowed just one XBH in 113 PA vs. right-handed hitters (Kevin Newman double on 6/1)...Held RHH to a .248 SLG, the fifth-lowest mark in the AL...Missed 20 games on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation (4/13-30) and a viral infection (9/28 through end of season).
2022
Split the season between CHC and LAD...Went 4-1 with a 3.05 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in a career-high 60 appearances (56.0 IP, 50 H, 19 ER, 5 BB, 74 SO)...His 74 SO marked a career high. Led the majors (min. 50.0 IP) in BB/9.0 IP (0.80) and SO/BB (14.80). Recorded multiple SO in 20 appearances, including a career-high four SO on 8/15 at MIL (4 BF, 1.0 IP). Issued 0 BB in 36 consecutive outings from 6/10- 9/20, MLB’s longest streak of 2022 and the longest streak of his career...Had 44 SO in that span. Acquired by LAD on 7/30 in exchange for INF Zach McKinstry...In 26 outings for the Dodgers, was 3-1 with a 1.46 ERA, 0.53 WHIP, and .135 opponent AVG (24.2 IP, 12 H, 4 ER). For LAD, struck out 34 batters and walked only one...Issued 0 BB in his first 20 games with the club (25 SO). Including the Postseason, 25 of his 28 outings for the Dodgers were scoreless...Did not allow a run in each of his final 15 appearances, spanning 9/4 through NLDS Game 4. Made two scoreless appearances during the NLDS against SD...Earned the save in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium and tossed a scoreless sixth inning in Game 4 at Petco Park.
2021
Chris made 46 relief appearances and won his first World Series championship with Atlanta in 2021... Went 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA (19 ER/43.1 IP), 13 holds and one save during the regular season... Tossed 4.1 innings over five postseason appearances, allowing one earned run... Missed from April 10-May 12 with right shoulder inflammation and Sept. 2-16 with right elbow inflammation... 32 of his 46 appearances were scoreless and he allowed one run or less in 42 of those games... Did not allow a run in May over six appearances (6.0 IP), holding hitters to a .053 average against (1-for-19)... Pitched in Games 4 and 5 of the World Series, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
2020
N.L. Ranks: WHIP (0.61, 1st), ERA (1.00, 4th), hits (8, T1st)...Pitched to a 0.61 WHIP this season, the lowest among players with as many innings pitched as him...His 1.00 ERA was the fourth lowest among relievers with as many appearances in the National League...His eight hits allowed were tied for the lowest total in the majors among players with as many innings pitched...In his first full season with Atlanta recorded six holds and a save in 19 games with a 1.00 ERA (2 ER/19.0 IP)...Had a career long scoreless streak of 16.0 innings between 7/29 and 9/21. 2020 Postseason...Pitched in eight of Atlanta's 12 postseason games, and went 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA (2 ER/8.0 IP)...Struck out six and pitched to a 0.88 WHIP...His 8.0 innings in relief were the fourth most in the National League.
2019
Appeared in 58 games on the season between Atlanta and Texas, combining to go 1-3 with a 3.40 ERA (21 ER/55.2 IP) and four saves... Atlanta acquired him on 7/30 and he went 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA in 20 games for the Braves...Pitched to a 1.59 FIP...Had an 11.57 ERA (6 ER/4.2 IP) in his first six games with the Braves, before pitching to a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) in his final 14 appearances... Walked just five batters in 55.2 innings on the season, the fewest in baseball among pitchers with at least 50.0 innings...His 0.81 walks per 9.0 innings were second fewest, behind only teammate Josh Tomlin (0.79)... Tossed the sixth immaculate inning in franchise history, September 11 at Philadelphia, fanning César Hernández, Jay Bruce, and Logan Morrison on nine total pitches... Joined John Clarkson (1889), Joe Oeschger (1921), Tony Cloninger (1963), Joey McLaughlin (1979) and Buddy Carlyle (2007) in accomplishing the feat... Was one of three relievers Atlanta acquired in the final two days before the trade deadline, joining Shane Greene from Detroit and Mark Melancon from San Francisco... Martin, Greene and Melancon were each added to Atlanta's bullpen, and joined the Braves after combining to go 4-6 with a 2.65 ERA (36 ER/122.1 IP) over 119 games on the season with their original clubs, with 27 saves, 130 strikeouts and just 32 walks... The trio combined to pitch in 20 games for Atlanta from 8/1 to 8/14 and went 1-2 with an 11.15 ERA (19 ER/15.1 IP), three blown saves and 31 hits allowed... In their final 50 combined games for Atlanta, from 8/15 through the end of the season, the three combined to go 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA (9 ER/48.0 IP), convert all 11 save chances and collect 14 holds. Allowed left-handers to bat just .202/.208/.374 against him in 101 plate appearances, while righties batted .291/.313/.445 in 115 plate appearances…He walked just one left-handed batter all season. 2019 Postseason... Made Atlanta's postseason roster but sustained an injury while warming up during Game 1…Was replaced on the roster by Julio Teheran.
2018
Appeared in a career-high 46 G, 4th-most on staff… marked 1st ML action since 2015 w/ NYY…entered in the 7th inning or later in 43 of 46 G…ranked among A.L. relief leaders in BB/9.0 IP (4th, 1.08) and SO/BB (5th, 7.40)…marked the lowest single-season BB/9.0 IP rate by a reliever in WAS/TEX franchise history (min. 40 IP)…issued walks in 4 of 46 G, multiple walks just once (7/4 vs. HOU)…had a 1.224 WHIP that ranked 3rd on TEX staff (min. 40.0 IP) to only Jose Leclerc (0.850) and Mike Minor (1.121).
2017
Earned save in season's 1st appearance on 4/1 vs. Saitama Seibu Lions but was then sidelined until 5/7 with a right forearm muscle strain…was used in a set-up role the rest of the year, ranking 9th in NPB in holds (29)…posted lowest ERA (1.19) on the Fighters staff while holding opponents to .165 batting average…issued runs in just 4 of 40 overall outings and worked 20.2 scoreless frames in his last 21 appearances beginning 7/9…had a 0.48 ERA (1 ER/18.2 IP) in 20 appearances at the Sapporo Dome.
2016
Was a Pacific League All-Star and tied for 5th in the PL in saves (21 in 24 tries) in 1st NPB season…also had 19 holds…fanned 57 with just 7 BB in 50.2 IP…allowed runs in 6 of 52 games and did not permit an earned run (1 total run) over 27.1 IP in last 28 appearances beginning 6/15…did not pitch after 9/4 due to an ankle injury that sidelined him during Hokkaido's playoff run to the Japan Series championship.
2015
Made 24 relief appearances over 3 stints with NYY… opened the season with the Yankees and had a 3.55 ERA (5 ER/12.2 IP) over 15 games before going on DL on 5/9 with right elbow tendinitis…struck out the side in a perfect 5th inning in NYY debut on 4/6 vs. TOR, just the 2nd Yankees pitcher since 1914 to fan every batter faced in his team debut (min. 3 BF), joining RHP Edwar Ramirez (3K in his Major League debut on 7/3/07 vs. MIN)…earned lone ML save on 4/28 vs. TB… was activated and optioned to Scranton/Wilkes Barre (AAA) on 5/31…was also with NYY from 6/11-19 (5 ER/3.1 IP in 3 G) and 9/11-end of season (3 ER/4.2 IP in 6 G)…had 3 wild pitches in 1.0 IP, 6/13 at BAL…overall, allowed a run in 8 of 24 games and had 5 holds…posted a 3.18 ERA with 2 saves in 20 outings at SWB.
2014
Made his Major League debut with Colorado, posting a 6.89 ERA (15.2IP, 12ER) and 14K in 16 relief appearancesover two stints with the Rockies (4/25-5/20 and 6/5-21)…opponents batted .338 (22-for-65, 2HR); LH .333(8-for-24, 0HR), RH .341 (14-for-41, 2HR)…retired 10-of-16 first batters faced (62.5%)…stranded each of his five inherited runners... Was signed to a Major League contract and selected to Colorado's 25-man roster on 4/25…made his Major League debut on 4/26 at Los Angeles-NL, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning (1H, 1BB)... Also saw time with Triple-A Colorado Springs, going 1-3 with five saves, a 4.39 ERA (26.2IP, 13ER) and 36K in 25 relief appearances... Was designated for assignment by Colorado on 1/5/15 and acquired by the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations on 1/13/15.
2013
Split the season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket...began the season with Portland and tossed 21.0 scoreless innings in 12 games...Joined Pawtucket on 5/13 and went 3-3 with 2 saves over 30 games, all in relief...had a 3.18 ERA (51.0 IP, 18 ER) with Pawtucket...Spent the winter with Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter Leagues...picked up six saves for Leones in seven opportunities...did not receive a decision in his eight games and did not allow an earned run or walk.
2012
Returned to Double-A Portland and spent the entire campaign with the Sea Dogs...Began the season as a starter after primarily pitching as a reliever last year...Held left-handed opponents to a .215 AVG (28-for-130)...Recorded a season-high 8 strikeouts on 6/21 vs. Harrisburg...Went back to the bullpen on 8/1 after returning from his 2nd stint on the DL...After the season, went 1-0 with 2 holds, a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP), and 12 strikeouts compared to 1 walk in 7 appearances for Surprise of the Arizona Fall League.
2011
Had contract purchased from the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the independent American Association on 3/31...Went 6-2 with 4 saves and a 2.55 ERA (21 ER/74.0 IP) in 23 games between Single-A Greenville, High-A Salem, and Portland...Lasted at least 2.0 innings in 20 of 22 relief appearances...Earned 4 wins in 6 relief appearances for the Drive...Made only start on 6/24 at Lexington in final appearance for Greenville...Transferred to Salem on 6/29 and tied for 3rd on club with 4 saves...Sent to Portland on 8/19 and appeared in 3 games.
2010
Went 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 36.2 innings for Grand Prairie.
