Boston, MA- Pedro Martinez, the eight-time All Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and famed Boston sports legend will soon find himself back in familiar turf. The 41 year old former Boston Red Sox pitcher has rejoined the franchise, working as a special assistant to general manager Ben Cherington.
Speaking on behalf of the seven-time World Series winning ball club, Cherington mentioned that the team is “very excited to have Pedro on board with [them] and back in the Red Sox organization…He was one of the game’s most dominant pitchers and without a doubt a beloved figure in Red Sox history.”
Martinez officially retired from Major League Baseball in 2009, having last pitched as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched for Boston from the 1998 through 2004 seasons. The Red Sox management has high hopes that Martinez will work alongside current pitching staff to remedy what many consider to be one of the team’s weakest points.
When asked how he will be able to contribute to improving the Red Sox’s bull pen, Martinez said that he feels that he “can have the patience of the talent that’s coming up and understand that they’re going to be their own way in some parts…[he] should be able to handle it.” He added that “it’s impossible to be Roger [Clemens], but you can also pick and choose some of the things that you can help them with and hopefully help out.”
Saint Anselm College Junior, Dana Hazeltine ’14 told Crier Sports that he was excited to hear that Martinez will be returning to the Red Sox.
“He was a hero to me and so many other Red Sox fans of our generation,” said Hazeltine.
Like Martinez’s former teammate Jason Varitek, who joined the Red Sox’s operations staff last September, Martinez will be involved in the evaluation, mentorship, and instruction of young players in spring training and throughout the upcoming season. The Red Sox will officially open their 2013 Regular Season on Monday April 1, 2013 as they take on the New York Yankees at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium in New York City.