J. D. Martinez
He transformed himself from a lightly-regarded prospect into one of baseball's most feared and consistent right-handed sluggers of the 2010s.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 21·Millennials
Biography
J.D. Martinez's path to stardom was anything but guaranteed. Drafted in the 20th round by the Houston Astros, he was a marginal prospect who was released in 2014. Facing the end of his career, he undertook a radical overhaul of his swing, studying video of the game's great hitters and retooling his mechanics. The results were immediate and staggering. Signed by the Detroit Tigers, he erupted as a power hitter, launching home runs with a frequency that stunned the league. His career became a testament to self-made reinvention, starring for the Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and most notably the Boston Red Sox, where he was a central offensive force on the 2018 World Series championship team. Martinez combined brute power with a keen analytical eye, becoming a hitting savant whose late-career peak was built entirely on his own obsessive work ethic.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
J. was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When J. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
J.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2018 World Series with the Boston Red Sox, driving in 16 runs during that postseason.
- Earned three Silver Slugger Awards (2015, 2018, 2019) for his offensive production.
- Hit four home runs in a single game for the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 4, 2017.
- Recorded a .300 batting average, 40 home runs, and 130 RBIs in his first season with Boston in 2018.
Did You Know?
He famously uses a yellow legal pad to meticulously document notes and adjustments on opposing pitchers.
After his 2014 release, he retrained his swing in a Florida facility with the help of private hitting coaches.
He played college baseball at Nova Southeastern University, an NCAA Division II school.
He is an avid fisherman and often posts about his catches on social media.
““I wasn't blessed with the most talent, so I had to outwork everyone.””
