Martinez was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
Martinez started seven of the Rangers' first nine games after he earned his first career call-up in mid-August, but he's since started just two of the last 16 contests and none of the last nine. His .225/.250/.325 slash line in 44 plate appearances overall didn't make a great case for more playing time, nor did his 2:16 BB:K. Infielder Jonathan Ornelas was recalled to take his place on the roster.
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Rangers' J.P. Martinez: Sitting again Wednesday
Rotowire
Martinez is out of the lineup again Wednesday versus the Mets.
Martinez got off to a hot start when the Rangers initially called him up from Triple-A Round Rock on Aug. 11, but he has tallied only one hit while striking out 10 times in his last 17 plate appearances. Travis Jankowski, Leody Taveras and Adolis Garcia will start across the outfield Wednesday as Mitch Garver serves as the DH.
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Rangers' J.P. Martinez: Knocks first homer
Rotowire
Martinez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-6 extra-innings loss to the Twins.
Martinez's second-inning homer, his first of the year, snapped an 0-for-10 skid across his last six contests. The 27-year-old continues to operate as a reserve outfielder for the Rangers. He's slashing .281/.306/.406 with four RBI, seven runs scored and no stolen bases through 36 plate appearances this season. Martinez's best path to playing time remains in left field, where he can compete with Robbie Grossman and Travis Jankowski, though he was covering for a resting Adolis Garcia in right field Sunday.
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Rangers' J.P. Martinez: Logs two hits in loss
Rotowire
Martinez started in right field and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Sunday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to San Francisco.
The Rangers were stifled for 8.2 innings by Logan Webb before Martinez doubled and scored on Ezequiel Duran's infield single. Martinez had his contract selected from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, when Travis Jankowski was placed on the paternity list, and went 4-for-11 with a walk and an RBI in three games. His MLB stint could be over once Jankowski returns.
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Rangers' J.P. Martinez: Selected from Triple-A
Rotowire
Texas selected Martinez's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
Martinez has put up an excellent .311/.435/.558 slash line with 12 homers and 36 steals over 72 games this summer in the Rangers' minor-league system, but the 27-year-old outfielder might only be up for a brief cup of coffee while Travis Jankowski is away on paternity leave.
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Rangers' J.P. Martinez: Getting call to majors
Rotowire
Martinez will be called up to the Rangers ahead of Friday's series opener in San Francisco, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
A highly publicized international signee out of Cuba in the spring of 2018, Martinez has broken through this summer at Triple-A Round Rock to the tune of a .312/.427/.565 batting line with 12 homers and 33 steals in 67 games. He can play all three outfield spots and might be able to carve out a semi-regular role in Texas with Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith having to cover for Josh Jung (thumb) at third base.
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Rangers' Julio Pablo Martinez: Promoted to High-A
Rotowire
Martinez was promoted to High-A Down East about two weeks ago due to an injury to Bubba Thompson, but he has struggled so far in 15 games, hitting just .135/.217/.269 in 60 plate appearances, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
Martinez is striking out a whopping 40.0 percent of the time at High-A and wasn't exactly tearing it up at Low-A Hickory, hitting .250/.295/.400 before getting moved up. It's an ominous sign to see a 23-year-old struggle so much against High-A pitching.
