José Dennis Martínez Emilia (born May 14, 1955 in Granada, Nicaragua), better known as Dennis Martínez, was the first baseball player from Nicaragua to play in Major League Baseball.

A right-handed starting pitcher, Martínez played for the Baltimore Orioles (1976-86), Montreal Expos (1986-93), Cleveland Indians (1994-96), Seattle Mariners (1997) and Atlanta Braves (1998).

In his 23-year career, Martínez had a 245-193 record with 2149 strikeouts, a 3.70 ERA, 30 shutouts, 122 complete games, four saves, and 3999.2 innings pitched in 692 games played (562 as starter).

Highlights

• 4-time All-Star (1990-92, 1995)
• Twice Top 10 Cy Young Award (1981, 1991)
• Led league in wins (1981)
• Led league in ERA (1991)
• Led league in shutouts (1991)
• 6-time Top 10 in shutouts (1979, 1981, 1990, 1994-96)
• Led league in games started, innings pitched and batters faced (1979)
• 9-time pitched 220 or more innings in a season (1978-79, 1982, 1988-93)
• 3-time oldest player in the majors (1996-98)
• 50th in the strikeouts all-time list
• Set record for most wins by a Latin American pitcher (244 - August 9, 1998)
• Pitched the 13th perfect game in major league history (July 28, 1991)

Facts

• On September 28, 1993, Martinez won his 100th game for the Expos, giving him at least 100 victories in both the American and National leagues. Others to do that are Jim Bunning, Ferguson Jenkins, Al Orth , Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan and Cy Young.

• The baseball park in Managua (Nicaragua's capital city) is named Dennis Martínez Stadium.

See also

• Perfect game
• Players from Nicaragua in MLB

External links

• Dennis Martínez at:
  • Baseball Library
  • Baseball Page
  • Baseball Reference