Angel Martínez’s defensive growth was lone bright spot in Guardians' Game 1 loss to White Sox in ALDS 

In 2024, the Guardians shifted Angel Martínez to the outfield midway through the season in an attempt to try to keep his bat in their lineup. And while it worked in the sense his bat got to stay in the lineup, it came at the expense of his defense. 

That’s changed a bit this season thanks to a permanent move to the corners that helped mitigate his lack of range in center while giving him more chances to show off his 80-grade arm. 

That arm was on full display in the Guardians’ loss to the White Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday when he made a fantastic catch in the sixth inning that resulted in an inning-ending double play that helped keep the Guardians in the game. 

He got to show that arm off again an inning later when he uncorked an 82.9 mile per hour throw to home that would have nabbed Kyle Teel at the plate had the ball not popped out of Austin Hedges’ glove. 

That performance coming in a loss may be a bit deflating, but it did show that Martínez isn’t the kind of defensive liability that it seemed like he was earlier in his career. 

Angel Martinez showed his defensive growth in Game 1 of ALDS against White Sox

Martínez’s fantastic double play was a perfect example of the kind of play that he didn’t make earlier in his career. 

The ball traveled a Statcast-projected 366 feet and had a hit probability of 86% (it would have been a ballpark in Fenway Park and Wrigley Field). 

Martínez may have finished the regular season being worth -2 Outs Above Average in left field, but he was worth +3 Outs Above Average on balls he needed to go back for.

He slowly drifted back to get Pham’s ball and was able to use every part of his 5-foot-11 frame to get the ball right before it hit the wall. 

He completed the play by quickly getting the ball back into the infield to double off Miguel Vargas at first base. He may not be Steven Kwan, but he’s still a serviceable left fielder. 

His play an inning later may have been just as impressive considering he was able to quickly get to Colson Montgomery’s ball rolling down the left field line before firing an absolute dot to home that was right where Hedges could grab it. 

It ended up being for naught after the ball popped out of Hedges’ glove (a good summation of the day for the Guardians), but Martínez did everything he needed to do on that play. 

The Guardians still have another chance to pick up a win at home on Monday, and Martínez will be a big part of those plans. They need his bat, but Saturday showed that his glove can be just as much of a factor. 

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