J.D. Martin Named IL Pitcher of the Week

Durham Bulls starter J.D. Martin has been named International League Pitcher of the Week for the period from June 10 - 16. Martin, who leads the League with 9 victories, becomes the fifth Bull to take home an IL weekly award this season (Belnome, Odorizzi, Colome, Myers) which is a League-high. Syracuse's Zach Walters was named IL Batter of the Week.

Bulls right-hander J.D. Martin won twice last week, defeating Louisville on Monday before knocking off Indianapolis yesterday to pick up his League-leading ninth victory of the season. Martin worked his first scoreless outing of 2013 against the Bats, tossing 6.2 innings of shutout baseball as Durham cruised to a 5-2 win. 5-2 was also the score in Sunday's tilt as Martin avenged a June 5 loss to the Tribe in Indianapolis. A two-run 2nd inning homer by Andrew Lambo was Martin's only blemish during a 7.0 inning, four-hit, six-strikeout performance. Martin is now 4th in the International League with 84.0 innings pitched this season.

A native of Ridgecrest, CA, Martin has anchored a Durham rotation that has seen four of its starters called up to the Majors this season. The 30-year-old is in his first season in the Tampa Bay organization after signing as a free agent this January. He is a veteran of 24 starts in the major leagues, having all come with the Nationals between 2009 and 2010.