Chris Martin Bio
Christopher Riley Martin (born June 2, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. A 6-foot-8 right-handed reliever, Martin has played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters; he is a Japan Series and World Series champion.
Early Life and Background
Martin attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Texas, where he pitched for the school baseball team and earned Class 5A All-State recognition in his senior year. He enrolled at McLennan Community College and pitched for the McLennan Highlanders; after his sophomore season he suffered a shoulder injury diagnosed as a torn labrum and underwent surgery.
Following the shoulder injury Martin left professional baseball for several years and worked loading trucks and in a warehouse in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. A return to throwing with a former teammate led him to try out for independent ball, and that attempt reignited his professional career.
Path to Baseball
Martin attempted a comeback in 2010 with the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association, where he threw mid-90s fastballs and posted a 4–0 record with a 1.96 ERA. His performance with the AirHogs drew attention from Major League organizations.
Before the 2011 season the Boston Red Sox offered Martin a spring training tryout and then signed him to a minor league contract. He progressed through the Red Sox minor league system from Single-A to Triple-A before being included in a trade to the Colorado Rockies after the 2013 season.
Chris Martin Career
Early Career (2010–2013)
Martin rebuilt his career in independent ball in 2010 and joined the Boston Red Sox organization in 2011, starting at Greenville and moving through Salem and Portland that season. Across three Red Sox affiliates in 2011 he combined for a 6–2 record and a 2.55 ERA, then spent 2012 and 2013 working mainly as a reliever in Portland and Pawtucket while refining his relief role.
After the 2013 season the Red Sox traded Martin to the Colorado Rockies as part of a deal that also included Franklin Morales, and Martin began 2014 in Triple-A with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox before his first Major League promotion.
Colorado Rockies Breakthrough (2014)
Martin made his Major League debut for the Colorado Rockies on April 26, 2014, pitching a scoreless inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He appeared in 15 2/3 innings for Colorado that season before a demotion back to Triple-A; the 2014 stint was his first exposure to sustained MLB competition and set the stage for subsequent moves around the league.
New York Yankees (2015)
The Rockies traded Martin to the New York Yankees in January 2015. Martin made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster and recorded his first career save on April 28, 2015; he spent parts of the season on the disabled list for tendinitis and was optioned several times between the majors and Triple-A during 2015.
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Breakthrough (2016–2017)
After the 2015 season the Yankees sold Martin’s rights to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball for $750,000. Martin became the Fighters’ closer in 2016, made the Pacific League All-Star team, and was part of the Fighters’ 2016 Japan Series championship; he finished the 2016 season with a 1.07 ERA and 21 saves, and followed with a 1.19 ERA in 2017.
His time in Japan included adjustments in preparation and pitch repertoire; Martin credited teammates for helping him add a split-finger fastball and said the experience helped him develop routines for frequent relief appearances.
Texas Rangers Era (2018–2019)
Martin signed a two-year contract with the Texas Rangers on December 15, 2017, and joined their bullpen for the 2018 season. He worked 41 2/3 innings for the Rangers in 2018 and posted a 4.54 ERA while serving in multiple late-inning relief roles.
In 2019 Martin opened the season with Texas and, following a strong stretch from May through July, was traded to the Atlanta Braves at the July 30 trade deadline. His 2019 regular-season performance for the Rangers included a 3.08 ERA in 38 appearances.
Atlanta Braves Breakthrough (2019–2021)
The Braves acquired Martin in July 2019, and he recorded an immaculate inning on September 11, 2019. He finished the 2019 season with a 3.40 ERA overall and joined the Braves’ postseason roster, though an oblique injury removed him from the active NLDS roster after Game 1.
Martin re-signed with Atlanta on a two-year contract and was an effective late-inning option during the club’s 2020 and 2021 campaigns. He posted a 1.00 ERA across 19 appearances in the 2020 pandemic-shortened season and contributed a 2.08 ERA in five postseason appearances as the Braves won the 2021 World Series.
Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers (2022)
Martin signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs in March 2022 and appeared in 34 games with a 4.31 ERA for the club. On July 30, 2022, the Cubs traded Martin to the Los Angeles Dodgers; he finished 2022 with the Dodgers, posting a 1.46 ERA in 24 2/3 innings across 26 appearances.
Boston Red Sox (2023–2024) and Return to Texas (2025–Present)
Martin signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox on December 8, 2022, and served as an effective member of Boston’s bullpen in 2023, recording a 4–1 record with a 1.05 ERA in 55 appearances before a late-season placement on the injured list due to a viral infection. His time in Boston continued through 2024 as a veteran relief option.
On January 6, 2025, Martin returned to the Texas Rangers on a one-year, $5.5 million contract. During the 2025 season he suffered a left calf strain in July, returned from the injured list in September, and in 49 total appearances compiled a 2–6 record with a 2.98 ERA, 43 strikeouts and two saves in 42 1/3 innings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Martin is notable for his 6-foot-8 frame, a fastball that averages in the mid-90s, and a mix that includes a slider, splitter and cutter. He has shown strong command throughout his career, walking batters at a well below-average rate and thriving as a multi-inning and late-inning reliever when his arsenal is working.
Notable Events and Milestones
Career milestones include his Major League debut on April 26, 2014, an immaculate inning on September 11, 2019, a Japan Series championship with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2016 and a World Series championship with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. His path from independent ball to two major championships is a defining narrative of his career.
Chris Martin Career Wins
Martin’s professional record spans independent leagues, Minor League Baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball. As of May 30, 2026, MLB totals listed include a 19–25 win–loss record, a 3.45 earned run average and 407 strikeouts; his two seasons in NPB produced a 2–2 record, a 1.12 ERA and 91 strikeouts through the 2017 season.
NPB Highlights
In Japan Martin emerged as the Fighters’ closer in 2016, recording 21 saves and a 1.07 ERA that season and contributing to the team’s Japan Series title. Across 2016–2017 he struck out 91 batters and walked 13 in 88 1/3 innings while developing a split-finger offering and a consistent late-inning routine.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Martin’s early professional highlights include a 4–0 record and 1.96 ERA with the Grand Prairie AirHogs in 2010 that reopened his career, and solid minor league relief seasons in the Red Sox system that led to his inclusion in the trade to the Rockies. He has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to adapt and succeed in varied relief roles at multiple levels.
Chris Martin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Martin is the youngest of four children born to Connie and Matt Martin. His three older siblings—Crystal, Jonathan and Shannon—played baseball or softball while growing up; Crystal played collegiate softball for the Texas A&M Aggies and was named an All-Big 12 selection.
Personal Life
Martin maintains a private personal life publicly. Available records confirm his family background and early years in Arlington, Texas, but do not list a spouse or children in public sources cited here.
2025 Season Performance
Martin’s 2025 season began after signing a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers and was marked by a midseason left calf strain that placed him on the injured list in July. He returned on September 1 and finished the season with 49 appearances, a 2.98 ERA, 43 strikeouts, two saves and a 2–6 record across 42 1/3 innings, providing veteran bullpen depth down the stretch.
His 2025 performance reinforced his role as a late-inning reliever capable of multi-inning work and matchup adaptability, and it set the stage for continued contributions to the Rangers’ bullpen in the immediate future.