| Leonys Martín | |
|---|---|
 Martín with the Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| Bravos de León | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: (1988-03-06)March 6, 1988 (age 37) Corralillo,Villa Clara,Cuba | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: September 2, 2011, for the Texas Rangers | |
| NPB: July 26, 2019, for the Chiba Lotte Marines | |
| MLB statistics (through 2019 season) | |
| Batting average | .244 |
| Home runs | 58 |
| Runs batted in | 228 |
| Stolen bases | 126 |
| NPB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
| Batting average | .220 |
| Home runs | 75 |
| Runs batted in | 204 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Leonys Martín Tápanes (born March 6, 1988), nicknamed "Ikadi",[1] is a Cuban-American professionalbaseballcenter fielder for theBravos de León of theMexican League. He signed with theTexas Rangers in 2011, and made his MLB debut later that season. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for the Rangers,Seattle Mariners,Chicago Cubs,Detroit Tigers, andCleveland Indians, and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theChiba Lotte Marines.
Born in Cuba, he played locally forVilla Clara of theCuban National Series, and for theCuban national baseball team in international competitions, including the2009 World Baseball Classic. While in Taiwan for the2010 World University Baseball Championship, Martín defected from Cuba in order to become a Major League Baseball free agent.[2]
Martín was born inVilla Clara Province inCuba. He was named afterLionel Richie, his mother's favorite musical artist.[3] His father worked as a foreman for a fishing company, while his mother raised Martín and his four siblings, a brother and three sisters.[3] Martín's father taught Leonys to play baseball.[3]
Martin learned to play baseball from his father, who coached him in youth baseball. Martín playedshortstop,second base andthird base before becoming acenter fielder.[3]
At the age of 17, Martín joinedVilla Clara in theCuban National Series.[3] He also played for theCuban national baseball team. Martín earned $40 a week.[3] In the 2009–2010 season, Martínbatted .326 with 10home runs, 23doubles, and 48runs batted in (RBI).[4][5] In five seasons with Villa Clara, Martín batted .314.[5]
For the Cuban national team, Martín appeared in the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championship. He appeared in the2009 World Port Tournament,[6] which Cuba won.[7] He was also named to the roster for the2009 World Baseball Classic as the team's fourth outfielder. He was the youngest player on the team,Aroldis Chapman being six days older.[3] Martín also played for Cuba in the2010 World Junior Baseball Championship, where he batted 9-for-20 (.450), scored 14runs, and had twodoubles and eightwalks.[5]
Martín defected from Cuba during the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championship.[4] He traveled to Tokyo, before arriving in Mexico, where he successfully petitionedMajor League Baseball to allow him to become afree agent.[3]
Martín signed a five-year, $15.5 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus with the Texas Rangers on May 4, 2011, with the Rangers adding Martín to their40 man roster.[3][8] He reported toextended spring training with the Rangers before they assigned him to theFrisco RoughRiders, the Rangers'Double-A affiliate in theTexas League. After batting .348 with a .435on-base percentage (OBP) with Frisco,[9] the Rangers promoted Martín to theRound Rock Express of theTriple-APacific Coast League in July.[3] He also spent two days working on baserunning and defense with RangerscoachGary Pettis.[5]
For the Express, Martínbatted .263 with nohome runs, and 17runs batted in (RBI) in 175at bats.[10] The Rangers promoted Martín to the major leagues on August 30, 2011, whenNelson Cruz went on thedisabled list.[10] Making his major league debut on September 2, Martín recorded his first MLB hit againstTim Wakefield of theBoston Red Sox.[11] Appearing in eight games for the Rangers, Martín recorded three hits in eight at bats, including one double.[12] The Rangers added Martín to their roster for the2011 American League Division Series, but he did not make an appearance.[12]
The Rangers optioned Martín to Round Rock duringspring training in 2012.[13] After batting .344 with a .414 OBP and .547slugging percentage with five home runs in 31 games for Round Rock to start the 2012 season, the Rangers promoted Martín on June 15, when they placedKoji Uehara on the disabled list.[12]
In 2013, Martín made the Rangers' 25 man roster and started at center field on Opening Day against theHouston Astros. On April 21, Martín hit the 1st home run of his major league career off ofAaron Harang of theSeattle Mariners. On June 25, Martín collected the first multi-home run game of his major league career with two solo shots againstHiroki Kuroda of theNew York Yankees. Martín hit .260 for the 2013 season and stole a career-high 36 bases.
Martín played a full season in 2014, hitting .274 with 31 stolen bases over a career-high 155 games. He suffered an injury in 2015 and played only 95 games, while his batting average sank to .219.[14]
After the 2015 season, the Rangers traded Martín andAnthony Bass to theSeattle Mariners forTom Wilhelmsen,James Jones, and aplayer to be named later (Patrick Kivlehan).[15]
Martín set a career-high in home runs in 2016 (15), despite moving from a team playing their home games in an extreme hitter's park to a team playing their home games in an extreme pitcher's park.
Martín was designated for assignment by the Mariners on April 23, 2017.[16] He was outrighted to Triple-A until he had his contract purchased by the team at the end of July. On August 23, he was designated for assignment for a second time.
On August 31, 2017, theChicago Cubs acquired Martín and cash for a player to be named later or cash from the Mariners.[17] Between the two teams in 2017 he batted .172/.232/.281. Martin made the Cubs 2017 playoff roster due to his above average speed and defense.[18] He was outrighted to Triple-A on November 6, 2017, and elected free agency later that day.[19]
On December 5, 2017, theDetroit Tigers signed Martín to a one-year, $1.75 million deal.[20] Martín hit his first careergrand slam on April 19, 2018, offMike Wright of theBaltimore Orioles.[21] On April 25, Martín hit a home run in both games of a doubleheader against thePittsburgh Pirates, becoming the first Tiger player to do so sinceDon Kelly on October 1, 2010.[22] On May 8, Martín was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a hamstring strain.[23] On July 2, he was placed on the disabled list for the second time with a hamstring injury.[24] For the season with Detroit he batted .251/.321/.409.
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On July 31, 2018, Martín andKyle Dowdy were traded to theCleveland Indians in exchange forWilli Castro.[25] Nine days later Martín was placed on the 10-day disabled after an undisclosed illness.[26] He was admitted to theCleveland Clinic on August 9, where he received care in the Intensive Care Unit.[27] On August 13, Indians president of baseball operationsChris Antonetti announced Martín was recovering from a life-threatening bacterial infection and that there was no timetable for Martín's return to baseball activities.[28] On August 22, the Indians ruled Martín out for the remainder of the season as a precaution.[29] In 2018, he had only 15 at-bats for Cleveland.
Martín signed a one-year contract for the 2019 season with the Indians on October 31, 2018, avoiding salary arbitration.[30] In 65 appearances for Cleveland in 2019, he batted .199/.276/.343 with nine home runs, 19 RBI, and four stolen bases. On June 22, 2019, Martín wasdesignated for assignment by the Indians.[31] After clearing waivers, Martín was released by Cleveland on June 27.[32]
On July 14, 2019, Martín signed with theChiba Lotte Marines ofNippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[33] He played in 52 games for Lotte, posting a slash of .232/.342/.495 with 14 home runs and 39 RBI. On December 2, 2019, Martín signed a one-year extension to remain with the Marines.[34] Appearing in 104 games for the Marines in 2020, Martín hit .234/.382/.485 with 25 home runs, 65 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.
He signed a two-year extension with the Marines after the 2020 season.[35] He played in 116 games for Lotte in 2021, slashing .233/.355/.500 with 27 home runs and 75 RBI. In 2022, Martín made 68 appearances for Lotte, hitting .163/.293/.317 with 9 home runs and 25 RBI.
On February 9, 2023, Martín signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners with a non-roster invite to spring training.[36][37] He went 5-for-19 and struck out nine times in spring training before he was released on March 23.[38]
On January 16, 2024, Martín signed with theConspiradores de Querétaro of theMexican League.[39][40] In 82 appearances for Querétaro, he batted .305/.410/.630 with 29 home runs, 74 RBI, and three stolen bases.
Martín made 32 appearances for the Conspiradores in 2025, slashing .266/.372/.444 with five home runs, 20 RBI, and three stolen bases.
On May 30, 2025, Martín was traded to theSultanes de Monterrey of theMexican League in exchange forDaniel Castro, Tyler Viza, andMichel Báez.[41] In 32 games, he hit .237/.372/.355 with 2 home runs, 9 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.
On February 6, 2026, Martín was traded to theBravos de León of theMexican League in exchange for P Jared Wilson.[42]
Martín's parents are divorced. His mother, brother and three sisters live in Cuba. His father lives inMiami.[3]
On June 25, 2018, Martín became a naturalized United States citizen.[43]
