It's been a rough year for Leonys Martin.
The former Rangers' center fielder of the future hasn't lived up to the billing, and has in fact, lost that billing to a rookie Rule IV draft pick in the form of Delino DeShields Jr., who's snatched the starting center field gig as well as the leadoff spot that Martin once looked poised to hold down for years.
Martin was sent down to Triple-A Round Rock in August with hopes he could pull off a Rougned Odor-type season reclamation, but instead Martin ended up needing surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his hand on Aug. 26.
Martin hasn't played a game since Aug. 13, and that was with Round Rock, but on Sunday he was activated from the disabled list and will be carried by the Rangers to serve strictly as a pinch-runner and/or late-game defensive replacement.
Martin hit .220 with a horrendous .265 on-base percentage in 94 games game with the Rangers before being sent down. He stole 14 bases, but eclipsed 30 steals in each of the past two seasons, so he could be a valuable pinch-runner. As for his defense, that is the one area Martin has never lacked, as he's a great defensive center fielder with a cannon arm who had 13 outfield assists in those 94 games.
So we're not sure how much we'll see Martin down the stretch, but he could be a nice piece to add to the puzzle.
