Jose Martinez never got his name called on Opening Day in the majors, but the switch-hitting shortstop from Machiques de Perija, Venezuela has carved out something real in Caribbean winter ball. Hitting .304 through 21 games in the 2026-27 LVBP season, Martinez is one of the more reliable bats in the Bravos de Margarita lineup — and at 30, he’s still getting better.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Jose Martinez
- Position: Shortstop
- Team: Bravos de Margarita (LVBP)
- Number: 22
- Bats / Throws: Switch / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’10» / 185 lb
- Born: August 15, 1996 — Machiques de Perija, Venezuela
Background
Martinez grew up in Machiques de Perija, in the state of Zulia, and signed into professional ball through the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He worked his way through the minor-league system between 2018 and 2019, hitting at multiple levels before his path to the big leagues closed. His switch-hitting ability gave him an edge on paper, but the numbers in the low minors were a work in progress.
Minor-League Career
In 2019, Martinez played at three levels for the Cardinals system. He hit .209 at High-A Palm Beach and .253 at Double-A Springfield before landing at Triple-A Memphis, where things clicked — .278 AVG, 3 home runs in 42 games, and an .813 OPS. That Triple-A showing was the best stretch of his stateside career, but a call-up never materialized.
Finding His Home in the LVBP
Since joining the Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, Martinez has been a consistent offensive presence. His best full season came in 2024-25: .301 AVG, 49 hits, 30 RBI, and an .811 OPS in 50 games. He dipped to .263 the following winter, but bounced back sharply in 2026-27 with a .304 mark and a .803 OPS in 21 games.
LVBP Stats — Bravos de Margarita
- 2026-27: 21 G | .304 AVG | 14 H | 8 RBI | .803 OPS
- 2025-26: 41 G | .263 AVG | 36 H | 9 RBI | .732 OPS
- 2024-25: 50 G | .301 AVG | 49 H | 30 RBI | .811 OPS
- 2023-24: 52 G | .343 AVG | 60 H | 28 RBI | .834 OPS
The Takeaway
Martinez is the kind of player who didn’t need the majors to find his level. His OPS has hovered around .800 across multiple LVBP seasons, and his rebound from .263 to .304 between 2025-26 and 2026-27 suggests he’s still refining his game at 30. For fans of Venezuelan winter ball, he’s one of the steadier names to follow at shortstop.
