The New York Yankees saw a quiet but notable departure from their minor league ranks this week when first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr. elected free agency.
The 27-year-old, who never appeared in a major league game during his time in the organization, is now free to sign with any club heading into the 2027 season.
Martinez, a left-handed hitter and thrower standing 6-foot-6 and listed at 254 pounds, was born in Holguin, Cuba.
He originally signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as an amateur free agent in 2017 and spent the better part of eight seasons working his way through their system.
After electing free agency following the 2025 campaign, he agreed to a minor league contract with the Yankees on December 13, 2025, and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate. He reported to spring training in Tampa and remained in the organization through the 2026 season, yet he never received a call-up to the Bronx.
In 113 games at the Triple-A level this past year, Martinez hit .243 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, 55 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases.
The power numbers represented a step up from his prior season in Nashville, where he had managed only six home runs across 80 games while posting a .255/.357/.388 slash line.
Still, the overall production and the presence of established major league options at first base and designated hitter kept him from forcing his way onto the big league roster.
Like many organizational depth players, he provided insurance against injuries and gave the Yankees an experienced left-handed bat in the upper minors without ever cracking the 26-man roster.
His departure arrives as the Yankees begin another offseason following a familiar postseason disappointment.
New York finished the regular season with a 93-68 record, good for second place in the American League East, but was swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS.
The series ended with a 4-3 loss on October 7, extending the franchise’s title drought to 17 years. With roster decisions already underway and several other minor leaguers also reaching free agency, Martinez’s exit is one of many routine moves that help clear space and reset the depth chart before spring training.
At 27 and still without a major league debut, Martinez faces a narrowing window.
Teams looking for left-handed depth at first base or a corner outfield spot may take a look during the offseason, particularly clubs that value experience in Triple-A and the ability to handle both positions.
Whether he returns to a familiar organization or finds a new opportunity elsewhere will become clearer in the coming weeks as clubs finalize their minor league signings.
For now, his brief tenure with the Yankees ends without a big league appearance, another reminder of how difficult the path from the minors to the majors remains even for a player who has logged more than a decade in professional baseball.
