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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Ready for 2026 debut with Arizona
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks reinstated Martinez (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Martinez has been cleared to make his 2026 debut with the Diamondbacks following a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent June 25, 2025. The hard-throwing reliever looked sharp over his four rehab appearances between Single-A Visalia and Triple-A Reno, firing four scoreless, no-hit innings while striking out six and issuing just one walk. The Diamondbacks' closer situation has been unsettled over the past three weeks after Paul Sewald lost the job and eventually, his roster spot, so Martinez could make for a viable speculative pickup for fantasy managers mining for saves. Before requiring surgery last summer, Martinez had previously been a key high-leverage arm for Arizona in 2024 and the early part of the 2025 season.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Rehab moves to Triple-A
Rotowire
Martinez (elbow) struck out two and over a perfect inning in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.
Martinez moved his rehab up from Single-A Visalia to Reno for the third appearance of his rehab. Between the two stops, the right-hander has struck out five and allowed no hits and one walk over three scoreless frames. Martinez is scheduled for at least one more appearance with Reno on Thursday, per Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com, but Martinez could be activated at some point during the team's road trip, which runs Friday through Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Nearing return to Arizona
Rotowire
Martinez (elbow) is expected to make up to two more rehab appearances before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.
Making his way back from the second Tommy John surgery of his career, Martinez has made two scoreless rehab appearances with Single-A Visalia, posting a 3:1 K:BB over two hitless innings. According to Gambadoro, Martinez is likely to be activated either Sunday in Atlanta or Monday in Boston. The 25-year-old could reclaim the Diamondbacks' closer job if he looks sharp, though Martinez may first be eased back in with some lower-leverage appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Moving rehab to Triple-A soon
Rotowire
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that Martinez (elbow) will shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Reno during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.
Martinez made the first two appearances of his rehab assignment with Single-A Visalia on Tuesday and Friday, striking out three batters over two no-hit innings between the outings. The right-hander will likely continue his rehab assignment for at least one more week, but if he continues to excel during his time at Reno, he could step into a prominent role in the Arizona bullpen upon his return from the 60-day injured list. Arizona is currently taking a committee approach to the closer position after Paul Sewald was removed from the role in late July.
Martinez (elbow) struck out two over a perfect inning in his first rehab appearance at Single-A Visalia on Tuesday.
Pitching in a game for the first time since June 9, 2025, Martinez aced the test while retiring the side on 14 pitches (eight strikes). Martinez is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and could need close to the full 30-day rehab window to shake off rust and hone his command and control. If Martinez pitches effectively during his rehab stint, he could be a factor in Arizona's unsettled closer picture once he's activated from the 60-day injured list.
Martinez (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Visalia on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Martinez participated in a camp game Friday and reportedly hit 100 mph on his four-seamer. The recent upheaval in the Diamondbacks' bullpen -- Paul Sewald was removed as closer -- indicates Martinez could reclaim the job once he's healthy. That may not happen until September, however.
Martinez (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Visalia next week, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Martinez has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. He's been cleared to face hitters for the past two weeks, and he's scheduled to pitch in a simulated game at the team's spring training complex this weekend before joining one of Arizona's minor-league affiliates. The 25-year-old righty will likely require an extended rehab assignment after spending more than a year on the shelf, but he could still make it back to the D-backs' bullpen before the end of August.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Throws another live BP session
Rotowire
Martinez (elbow) completed a second live batting practice Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that the next steps for Martinez will be a bullpen session followed by a bridge game at the team's training facility. The former closer is on a path to return later in August, although he could be pushed out until September when rosters expand. Martinez is not expected to resume his role as closer when he does return, as Paul Sewald has been effective in that role all season.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Completes live BP session
Rotowire
Martinez (elbow) threw pitches to rehabbing outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) in a live batting practice session Saturday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
After completing roughly 15 bullpen sessions over the last few weeks, Martinez took the next step forward in his recovery by facing hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on June 25, 2025. The hard-throwing righty will likely need to complete multiple live BP sessions before the Diamondbacks eventually send him out on what will presumably be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. His next live BP session is scheduled for Wednesday, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. If he can steer clear of any setbacks while ramping up, Martinez could be a factor in the Arizona bullpen by late August or early September.
Martinez (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session soon, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
Martinez has been progressing with his bullpen sessions and is nearly ready to face hitters for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last July. If he continues his recovery at his current pace, Martinez could be ready to rejoin the Arizona bullpen sometime in August.
Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Advances to bullpen session
Rotowire
Martinez (elbow) tossed a bullpen session Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
This was Martinez's first time throwing off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last July. Per Piecoro, the reliever was at 96-to-99 mph with his fastball during the bullpen session. Martinez still has several more hurdles to clear in his rehab program, and he's not expected to be ready to return to Arizona's bullpen until sometime after the All-Star break.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Throwing on flat ground
Rotowire
Martinez (elbow) is throwing from up to 120 feet on flat ground, MLB.com reports.
The next milestone for Martinez will be throwing from a mound. He underwent Tommy John elbow surgery last June and is shooting for a return in the second half of the 2026 season.
The Diamondbacks placed Martinez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Saturday.
The move will create space on Arizona's 40-man roster for Paul Sewald, who signed with the club on Thursday. Martinez underwent Tommy John surgery in June and is expected to return to the D-backs' bullpen near the end of August.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Aiming for late August return
Rotowire
Martinez (elbow) hopes to make his season debut by late August, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had last June, Martinez began a throwing program in mid-January. He will continue with a deliberate pace to his rehab and likely begin a rehab assignment a little after the All-Star break if all goes well. Martinez had been serving as the Diamondbacks' closer before getting hurt, but he could retake his old gig late in the 2026 campaign.
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