It’s safe to say that J.D. Martinez has turned out to be an excellent free agent acquisition for the Boston Red Sox. A bolder statement would be that his first season in Boston has been better than any we’ve ever seen by a hitter in their first season with the franchise.
There are many ways to value position players. Some hit for average or possess blazing speed on the base paths while others have exceptional defensive skills in the field. Martinez was brought to Boston to hit homers and drive in runs. When comparing him to other sluggers who the Red Sox acquired for their ability to hit, none have made a better first impression than Martinez.