Tino Martinez

Constantino “Tino” Martinez is a former professional baseball player recognized for his impactful 16-season Major League Baseball career and his integral role in four World Series championship teams with the New York Yankees. After leading the 1988 United States baseball team to a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and being named the MVP of the World Amateur Championships in Parma, Italy, Tino Martinez was selected by the Seattle Mariners in 1988 as the 14th overall pick in the MLB draft. During his collegiate career, Martinez set University of Tampa records for batting average (.398), home runs (54), and RBIs (222), while earning Division II All-American honors three times and Academic All-American recognition. He made his Major League Baseball debut with the Mariners on August 20, 1990, where he later earned the Pacific Coast League MVP in 1991 and his first American League All-Star selection in 1995.

In 2013, Martinez took on his first professional coaching role as the Miami Marlins’ hitting coach. That same year, his legacy was further cemented with his induction into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. He has also contributed to the sport as a color commentator for the YES Network.