Fansided

Victor Martinez has more home runs than strikeouts

By Jack Maloney

May 18, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter (48) celebrates his home run against the Boston Red Sox with designated hitter Victor Martinez (41) during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
May 18, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter (48) celebrates his home run against the Boston Red Sox with designated hitter Victor Martinez (41) during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baseball is a sport defined by failure. Hitting .300 is considered a great achievement, and that means you fail seven out of ten times. Guys strike out hundreds of times a season and are still considered excellent hitters.

So that’s why what Victor Martinez is doing this season is so unbelievable. We’re almost through two months of the year, so this isn’t some early April fluke. This is Victor Martinez straight up mashing.

The 35 year-old catcher is leading the American League in hitting and slugging percentage, at .329 and .605, respectively, has crushed 11 home runs (fourth in the AL), has an on base percentage of .379 (eighth in the AL).

He’s one of the main reasons the Detroit Tigers have the best record in baseball, at 27-13. But what’s more amazing than anything else he’s done this year, is that he’s only struck out nine times. Yep. Just nine times.

HE HAS MORE HOME RUNS THAN STRIKEOUTS. THAT IS ABSURD.

To put it in perspective, Mike Trout, probably the best player in baseball, has already struck out 56 times this year. So if you have the chance to watch Victor Martinez at all this year, make sure you do it, because this guy is up to something special.

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com

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