J.D. Martinez vowed as a young player that if he were fortunate enough to have a successful career, he would become a mentor to others.
That stemmed from his early days with the Astros, when he sought advice from veterans and discovered a hard truth.
“I was an up-and-down guy that barely played and I would reach out to the veteran guys, and at that time it was a little different,” Martinez said Wednesday at Citi Field before the Mets’ 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. “The veteran guys weren’t very nice. I remember seeing them and asking questions and them kind of never answering it and blowing me off and making my life a nightmare.”
Martinez became a mentor to many, including in his lone season with the Mets in 2024. That impact with teammates led to the organization last week hiring the 38-year-old Martinez as a special assistant.
He began his new role on this homestand, serving as a “resource” within the clubhouse.
“I had quite a roller coaster throughout my career from being released to being a top prospect, just my rise and then going in and retiring,” said Martinez, a six-time All-Star who played 14 seasons. “There’s a lot of things I have experienced where I feel I can relate to a lot of those guys in that clubhouse … whether it’s the offense, the strategy, the mentorship. I am just here to help out any way I can.”
During his Mets tenure, Martinez took a special interest in Mark Vientos, who had a breakout season before regressing last year.
“He was an unbelievable player — he still is, he still is a great player,” Martinez said. “I know he struggled last year, but he’s got the ability. It’s in there. And for him, I think it’s just one of those things, a little bit of guidance could go a long way with him. He’s off to a good start this year.”
Martinez’s role is similar to the one Carlos Beltrán has within the organization. Beltrán has become a visible presence around the team in recent seasons.
It’s a new-look Mets team following an offseason overhaul to the roster.
“I would argue this team is more talented than the 2024 team by far,” Martinez said of the group that reached the NLCS. “This is a really good group. I played with and against a lot of these guys.”
Martinez was asked what advice he would give players about playing in New York.
“Ignore all you guys,” Martinez said, referring to the media. “The fans are great, it’s just the Northeast and they are tough. You have got to kind of take it with a grain of salt. When I was here, the famous quote, ‘We suck, we all suck together.’ That is kind of the mindset you have got to have.”
