LAKELAND, Fla. -- Ron Gardenhire missed out on managing J.D. Martinez with the Tigers by a half-season. He missed out on the slugging outfielder's rise from Minor League signing to Major League All-Star. But thanks to Gardenhire's stint last year as bench coach with the D-backs, he had the chance to coach Martinez for the stretch run and the playoffs.
It wasn't a long stretch, but it was long enough to get an idea of how Martinez competes. As Gardenhire has gotten to know Nicholas Castellanos this Spring Training, he sees similarities.
"Just being around him, the intensity, I'm telling you, it's the same," Gardenhire said.