NEW YORK -- Assuming the rain holds off and they play baseball here at Citi Field Tuesday night, this could be a night for which Mets fans have been waiting excitedly for a while now -- the major league debut of outfield prospect Fernando Martinez.In a slew of pregame moves, the Mets placed shortstop Jose Reyes and right fielder Ryan Church on the disabled list. They announced that the MRI on center fielder Carlos Beltran revealed a bone bruise on the tibia and that he would miss the remainder of the current series. They acquired shortstop Wilson Valdez from the Cleveland Indians for cash. And they called up Martinez from Triple-A Buffalo and put him in the starting lineup -- playing right field and batting sixth.
"Fernando's going to get an opportunity to play," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "When I get a young player, I like to put him in the lineup right away. I don't want him sitting around worrying about first hit and things like that. He's going to get a chance to get a feel for the major leagues, and once he gets that opportunity, he'll determine the rest of the playing time."
Martinez has been a hot name in the Mets' organization for several years now -- the one name for which every team asks and the Mets refuse to consider in trade talks. Still just 20 years old, Martinez has dazzled scouts with his hitting ability and raw athleticism at every minor-league level. At Buffalo since the start of May, he was hitting .337 with 17 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 20 RBI in 24 games.
With Church heading to the disabled list with a right hamstring strain and Beltran sitting out at least the next two games after getting a cortisone shot, the Mets decided the time was right to bring up Martinez and see if he could provide a jolt to an injury-riddled lineup that was already without shortstop Reyes, first baseman Carlos Delgado and catcher Brian Schneider.
"Just part of the game," GM Omar Minaya said. "It happens to every club. The thing thing is, we're winning while this is happening."
The Mets just went 5-5 on a tough road trip to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston, taking two of three from the Red Sox at Fenway Park this past weekend before beating the Nationals on Monday in the opener of their homestand. Their next 12 games are against Washington, Florida and Pittsburgh -- a very soft part of the schedule that could help them weather the injury storm. Delgado is out until at least July following hip surgery, but they believe Reyes could return from his calf injury next Wednesday when he's eligible.
But since they don't have a first baseman or shortstop on their 40-man roster that they can call up to fill in for those guys, they're dipping down for the one very highly regarded prospect they do have -- Martinez, who happens to be a corner outfielder at a time when they have a need at that position.
Whether he hits or not, it's a good bet Martinez will head back to the minors once the Mets are at full strength again. But in the meantime, they're hoping his potent bat and young legs can spark something on a team that's struggling to score runs even as it's managing to win ballgames.
