New York Yankees News: Tino Martinez On Minor League Staff

By Ricky Keeler | Mar 31, 2015

On Monday, the New York Yankees brought back another member of the dynasty Bronx Bombers to join their coaching staff and help out some of the younger players. Former first baseman Tino Martinez will now be a minor league instructor for the Bronx Bombers in 2015. Martinez is going to remain with the New York Yankees Minor League camp until the end of the week. Keep in mind that Opening Day for most of the minor league affiliates will take place next Thursday, April 9.

One of the things Martinez told the New York Post is that he has had conversations with the new Yankees senior vice president of baseball operations, Gary Denbo about his new role, including talking about “Seeing minor league teams a couple of times a month.’’

Now, a position on the Yankees staff is not unfamiliar for the first baseman that was an All-Star with New York in 1997 and was the runner-up for the MVP that season to Ken Griffey Jr. In 2008, Martinez was a special instructor at spring training, specifically focusing on defensive improvement for the first basemen.

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Also, he was special assistant to general manager Brian Cashman that season, a position that is now filled by former Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui. Matsui was hired for that role back on March 10.

Martinez, who hit the game-tying home run in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, has not been a coach/instructor on a team since 2013 when he was the hitting coach for the Miami Marlins back in November of 2012.

However, eight months into his position, Martinez resigned after reports of having confrontations with some of the players, including one in which he grabbed the jersey of Derek Dietrich. Here is Martinez’s apology that was given in July of that season:

"“I want to apologize to the Marlins organization for my behavior,” said Martinez, 45. “I think I was frustrated at times, the way players were behaving and certain ways they were doing things. When I asked them to do something and they wouldn’t do it, whatever it may be, I thought the way to get through was by being firm with them, and I probably used some four-letter words.” (h/t The Miami Herald)"

Now, the man who was given a plaque in Monument Park last season, gets a chance to come back into the coaching ranks. It will be interesting to see how much work Tino does with Gregory Bird, the Yankees top first base prospect. Bird is expected to begin the season in double-A Trenton, but learning from another famous Yankee first baseman should help him in his development.

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