Indians alum Nick Martinez ('11) to Start Gold Medal Game for Team USA

SPOKANE, Wash. - Team USA will go for gold against Japan in Tokyo with a former Spokane Indians hurler getting the start for the Red, White, and Blue. Right-hander Nick Martinez, who appeared in nine games with Spokane in 2011, will toe the rubber as America looks for its second-ever gold medal in baseball on Saturday at 6:00 AM ET.

Martinez will be making his second start of the Olympics after stifling Korea (5 IP, 2 R, 9 K) last weekend to help Team USA advance to the medal round. Primarily an infielder in college with the Fordham Rams (he registered just 26.1 innings on the mound with the Rams), Martinez was drafted in 18th round in 2011 by the Texas Rangers and converted to the mound full-time, recording a 2.54 ERA over 39 innings in his first professional season with the Indians.

He reached the majors with Texas in 2014 and appeared in 88 games with the Rangers between 2014-17 before continuing his career in Japan with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2018-20) and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2021).

The Spokane Indians will also be represented in the gold medal game by Team USA third base coach Darren Fenster, who appeared in 60 games for Spokane in 2000 and currently serves as the minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator for the Boston Red Sox.

The U.S. previously won bronze at the Olympics in 1996 and 2008 and captured their lone gold medal in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics with former Spokane Indians skipper Tommy Lasorda at the helm.

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