Heading into 2026, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martinez had a career fWAR of -0.1. It means he had been worse than a replacement-level player.
We haven’t even finished the first two months of the 2026 campaign, and he is already at 1.2 fWAR for the season. The improvements Martinez has made across the board have been amazing, and he is now seen as an asset for Cleveland rather than a liability.
Those who were not familiar with him have been shocked and stunned by his evolution as a player this year. However, his teammates, coaches, and those who have followed the Guardians for years know that Martinez was way better than he had shown to this point in the major leagues.
One of those players is Jose Ramirez. The superstar is well aware of how talented his teammate always was, and is. It was always a matter of putting it all together, which is finally happening in 2026.
This week, Ramirez said he is not surprised by Martinez’s early-season success. Quite the contrary, in fact: he always knew what he was capable of.
“I’m not surprised with Martínez,” Ramírez said, as written by Guardians insider Tim Stebbins. “I know what his ceiling is, and I know he’s going to be that type of player. I’m not surprised by what he’s doing. I knew he was capable of that.”
Martinez was always a solid prospect, and big things were expected from him when he first broke into the scene in MLB in 2024. His 83 wRC+ in 43 games, however, was highly disappointing.
He ended up getting more chances in 2025, playing 139 games and taking 484 plate appearances. He responded with an even weaker 74 wRC+, raising questions about his future role in Cleveland.
This year, however, has seen Martinez finally play to the top of his abilities. He is slashing a fantastic .265/.309/.497 with nine home runs and eight stolen bases while also playing solid defense in all three outfield spots. He is sporting a 124 wRC+, a well-above-average figure. And he’s drawing All-Star buzz.
It took a while, yes, but Martinez finally looks like he belongs. Everybody is surprised, but not Ramirez. He always believed in the protege.
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