J.D. Martinez suffered through a miserable 2020 season. He hit .213. He ranked 129th out of 142 qualified hitters in weighted on-base average (wOBA). He finished with more strikeouts than hits. It was a shocking season for a hitter who ranked second in the majors in wOBA from 2017 to 2019, behind only Mike Trout.
He also made one thing clear in spring training: "I'm kind of tired of being judged on two months," he told WEEI.com's Rob Bradford late in March.
Martinez is making an early statement in 2021. He hit three home runs in Sunday's 14-9 win for the Boston Red Sox over the Baltimore Orioles and has started the season with extra-base hits in all eight games he's played -- including seven doubles and five home runs.