Former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin has been named among the finalists for the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.

Martin joins a star-studded list of first-time Hall-of-Fame eligibles, including outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia and second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Results will be announced on January 21 at 6pm ET.

After starting his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-2010) and playing two seasons with the New York Yankees (2011 and 2012), Martin signed a two-year deal with the Pirates in the summer of 2013 and was everything Pittsburgh could have hoped for. behind the food and on the plate.

pittsburgh He made it to the play-offs in the two seasons Martin was on the team. During his two years with the Pirates, the former catcher had 9.8 Wins Above Replacement and hit .256.362/.401 with 26 home runs and 122 RBIs. Martin’s best season was his final season in Pittsburgh; He hit .290/.402/.430 with 11 home runs and 67 RBIs in 2014, and his 5.7 WAR and 135 OPS+ were career highs.

In his first season, Pittsburgh broke a 20-season drought of missing the playoffs and beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-2 in the National League Wild Card Game. Martin went 3-4 with two solo home runs in the win. The Pirates defeated St. Louis before being eliminated from the postseason. He led the St. Louis Cardinals to five games in the National League Division Series.

In 2014, pirates Lost 8-0 to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants in the NL Wild Card game. In six playoff games with Pittsburgh in 2013, Martin hit .294.364/.647 with two homers, six RBIs and five hits. In 2014, Pittsburgh went 1-4 in its lone playoff appearance.

Martin left free agency in the summer of 2015 to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays and spent four seasons there before finishing his career with the Dodgers in 2019.

Former pirates The catcher finished his career with four All-Stars, a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. Martin hit .248/.349/.746 with 191 home runs and 771 RBIs during his 14 seasons in the major leagues.

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