Angel Martinez Is Doing Something Only 4 Other MLB Players Have Done

When discussing the Cleveland Guardians’ offense, the focus turns to the struggles of Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez, and Kyle Manzardo, or to how good the likes of Daniel Schneemann, Chase DeLauter, and Brayan Rocchio are looking.

Angel Martinez’s excellent campaign is also considered, yes, but perhaps we should all be talking about it more often because he is in contention to be the most improved Guardians of the year so far. The versatile switch-hitter was coming off a 74-wRC+ season in 2025, but he has taken his offensive game to the next level.

So far, Martinez is slashing a cool .259/.303/.467 with a 115 wRC+. He went from being 26 percent worse than the league-average hitter to 15 percent better. That’s a huge swing right there.

The talented Martinez has also hit seven homers and stolen eight bases.

“Angel Martinez is one of ONLY 5 players with 7 HR and 8 SB. Future Guardians leadoff hitter?” BetJack said.

Angel Martinez is one of ONLY 5 players with 7 HR and 8 SB 🔥

Future #Guardians leadoff hitter? 👀#GuardsBall | #MLB | #Cleveland pic.twitter.com/PTEXwyFZjA

— betJACK: Ohio's Sportsbook (@betJACK) May 16, 2026

Oneil Cruz, Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz, and Sal Stewart are the other four players to reach those totals this year. They are all candidates for a 20-20 campaign or better, including Martinez.

The tweet comes on the heels of Steven Kwan’s first start of the year out of the leadoff spot on Saturday. Daniel Schneemann, not Martinez, is at the top of the lineup, but that doesn’t mean Martinez can’t fill the role.

The fit is not the best, since he has a .303 OBP and Kwan himself is at .308, but Martinez offers pop, speed, and a hot bat at the moment. He could be a solid option for manager Stephen Vogt to use as the first hitter in the lineup, at least while he is playing like this.

Martinez could potentially cool off at some point, but there’s also a chance this is a new version of himself. He could have unlocked another level, which is what the Guardians and their fans are dreaming of.

There has always been talent in his bat, and it appears he has learned to hit righties in addition to mashing lefties. Cleveland has to be incredibly happy about their longtime underachieving hitter taking a step forward in 2026.