Fire-balling righty Justin Martínez will bring his triple-digit heat and devastating splitter back to anchor the Arizona Diamondbacks’ high-leverage relief corps.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are expecting to get an important bullpen piece back during their upcoming road trip.
According to John Gambadoro from Arizona Sports, right-hander Justin Martínez is expected to make one or two more rehab appearances before rejoining the Diamondbacks during their visits to the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox.
Martínez could return as early as Sunday’s series finale in Atlanta or Monday’s opener against Boston.
How Martínez can help
Getting Martínez back would provide Arizona with a power arm capable of handling high-leverage situations late in games. It would also complete a lengthy recovery that began when his 2025 season ended because of a right elbow injury.
The right-hander exited a June 9, 2025 game against the Seattle Mariners with two outs in the ninth inning after experiencing tightness in his right elbow.
An MRI later revealed a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. Martínez ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery on June 25, 2025, ending his season and creating uncertainty about whether he would pitch at all in 2026.
Before suffering the injury, Martínez had handled closer responsibilities for Arizona, relying on his velocity and devastating splitter to disrupt hitters and generate swings and misses.
In 2024, he appeared in 64 games and posted a 2.48 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 72.2 innings with 91 strikeouts, eight saves and nine holds.
Martínez posted a 4.11 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 15.1 innings across 17 appearances last season. He recorded 22 strikeouts, five saves and four holds.
What to expect from Martínez’s return
His return could be particularly valuable because Martínez possesses the type of arsenal that can change the complexion of Arizona’s bullpen.
His power allows him to attack hitters without needing to rely on perfect sequencing. The combination of velocity and a difficult splitter gives him different ways to finish at-bats. An especially useful quality when entering games with runners on base or protecting narrow leads.
Martínez also has experience pitching in the ninth inning. That gives the Diamondbacks another reliever who understands the pressure attached to recording the final outs of close games.
His versatility should provide Arizona with additional freedom when determining late-inning matchups rather than forcing one reliever into the same assignment every night.
Returning from Tommy John surgery also requires patience and considerable work away from MLB games. Reaching the final stages of his rehab after more than a year away represents an important milestone for Martínez.
Arizona will still need to manage expectations as he reacclimates to MLB competition, but his arm talent gives him the potential to become an important late-inning option immediately.
After waiting more than a year for his return, the Diamondbacks are close to getting one of their most important bullpen pieces back for their push toward the postseason.
