PHILADELPHIA — Nick Martinez turns 36 in a few weeks, with a pro career that dates to 2011 and includes nine seasons in the majors plus four in Japan.
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But this is the first time he has been an All-Star.
And thus when he strode into the American League clubhouse on Monday afternoon, his mind raced to draw a comparison to what he was walking into.
He settled on a famous, baseball-themed Jason Alexander character from the “Seinfeld” TV show to properly context his place among some of the game’s greats.
“I felt like George Costanza, assistant to the traveling secretary,” Martinez said. “You’ve got (Justin) Verlander, you’ve got (Aroldis) Chapman, you’ve got (Mike) Trout, you’ve got Martinez. Something’s off there.”
Even if it really did seem that way to Martinez, who mixes humility and self-deprecation well, it’s part of the thing about the mid-summer classic: If you’re there, you belong.
That same reasoning can be extended to the Rays having an AL-high five players on the team — starting and cleanup-hitting third baseman Junior Caminero, backup DH Yandy Diaz (who skipped Monday’s workout day activities), pitchers Drew Rasmussen, fellow first-timer Bryan Baker and Martinez — matching the most in their franchise history.
They also had five in 2009, coming off their 2008 AL World Series appearance, with then-manager Joe Maddon having some say in filling out the roster that included elected starter Evan Longoria (who couldn’t play due to a finger infection) and reserves Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford (who won MVP honors), Carlos Peña and Ben Zobrist.
If all five Rays play on Tuesday, it will mark the largest Rays takeover of an All-Star Game. In 2010, there were three Rays in the starting lineup — David Price on the mound, Longoria at third, Crawford in left — and Rafael Soriano pitched in relief.
Having the most players on the AL team is a proper reflection, the Rays reps say, of their success, sitting atop the league standings with a 56-38 record, a three-game East division lead over the Yankees and, per fangraphs.com, a 97.7% chance to make the playoffs.
“I think it’s exactly what it should be,” said Baker, the Rays’ other first-time All-Star. “I think the best teams should have probably a higher number of guys represent them here.
“And it speaks to our brand of baseball, too. We’re such a selfless team that has a bunch of different roles, and everybody plays a role really well. So seeing that getting rewarded is pretty awesome.”
Martinez also felt they deserved to have the most reps among the AL teams, and more than all but the hometown Phillies (six) and Dodgers (six, though with Shohei Ohtani inactive).
“It’s very special, man,” Martinez said. “I think we even could have showed up with six guys on this team, and it speaks to the way we’re playing ball right now. We’re playing for each other. We’re playing to win ball games, and we’re having a lot of fun.”
First baseman Jonathan Aranda, who through Sunday, hit .297 with 14 homers, 64 RBIs (fifth in the league) and an .865 OPS (eighth), could have been a sixth. Relievers Kevin Kelly (2.41 ERA over 41 games) and starter Shane McClanahan (8-5, 2.83 ERA) were at least worthy of being mentioned.
“It’s a team game and it says something if your team has had a good record in the first half and is off to a good start, to get represented with five guys is pretty special, and it probably could have been more,” Baker said.
“We’ve had so many contributions on the team. So getting to have the most is pretty cool to be a part of.”
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Four of the Rays All-Stars were at Citizens Bank Park for Monday’s team photo, media session and workout, and then the Home Run Derby, with Caminero one of the eight swingers.
Diaz, who was also an All-Star in 2023, decided to skip the activities at the stadium, both the Rays and his representatives at ACES Baseball Inc. said, to spend more time with family, but is expected to play Tuesday.
Caminero was, as expected, the most popular, with a large throng of reporters gathered at his table during the 45-minute media session, with compliments coming for all corners.
Agent Rafa Nieves, standing nearby, said that was a microcosm of the overall interest in the just-turned 23-year-old.
That includes an “overwhelming” and “out of control” number of media requests, including high-profile interviews such as a recent extended sitdown with ESPN, and now similarly with endorsement and commercial opportunities.
“There’s just so much he can do, and we’re starting to try to manage it so we also can stay focused on the field,” Nieves said. “But it’s good to see.”
Martinez wasn’t the only one feeling a bit out of place.
Baker had some of the same feelings seeing lockers near his for Trout, the longtime Angels star, and Verlander, who is wrapping his career this season with the Tigers.
“Mike Trout is a pretty big one for me,” Baker said. “It feels pretty crazy being on the same team as him. And Verlander coming back for his kind of farewell, it’s pretty cool. He’s an absolute legend.”
Rasmussen, acknowledging it felt “a little less overwhelming” to be an All-Star for the second time, is also a Verlander fan-boy and eager over the two-day event for a chance to chat.
“It was really cool to get to watch him as a young kid, but then also now to get the opportunity to spend a couple days with him and play with him is it truly is special,” said Rasmussen, a 30-year-old in his second straight All-Star Game.
“I want to pick his brain on everything. He’s seen this game evolve two-three times. His ability to stay healthy has been unbelievable. To dominate for as long as he has been (is) something that’s truly special; who knows when we’re going to see it again?
“So, I’ve got a lot of questions for him, and unfortunately, I don’t know if we have a time to enough time to answer them all.”
Mostly, though, Rasmussen said he was excited about the deserved opportunity to share the All-Star experience with his Rays mates, all of whom traveled to Philadelphia with their families after Sunday’s game on a pair of private jets arranged by the team.
“You know how we feel about our group internally. You get to see us day in and day out,” Rasmussen said to a Tampa Bay reporter. “So to get to be here and spend the time with the guys, it truly is special.”
All-Star Game
WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Philadelphia
TV: Fox
RAYS REPRESENTATIVES: 3B Junior Caminero, DH Yandy Diaz, RP Bryan Baker, P Drew Rasmussen, P Nick Martinez
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