QUINCY (WGEM) – Riley Martin’s first Major League start couldn’t have went any better.
Three up. Three down. Six pitches. Six strikes.
The former Quincy University left-hander was thrust into a starting role — the first of his Major League Baseball career — during the Chicago Cubs game at Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Before a sold out crowd at Citizens Bank Park and a national television audience watching via “MLB on TBS,” Martin was called on as the “opener” against the Phillies.
His first three batters featured three All-Stars and two future Hall of Famers in Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. The Cubs, with a pitching staff wracked by injuries used a bullpen game with Martin as the opener and Collin Rea to follow as the “bulk” reliever.
* After a first pitch strike, Turner flied out to right field.
* Then, Schwarber struck out swinging on three pitches.
* Finally, Harper flew out to center field on the first pitch he saw to end the inning.
After one inning, Martin’s day was over as Rea came into the game.
Martin was recalled from Class AAA Iowa on April 5 and made his MLB debut a day later at Tampa Bay pitching one inning and allowing one hit.
In three relief appearances, the Salem, Illinois, native has pitched 3.1 innings allowing two hits and three strikeouts. Opponents are batting .182 and Martin has an 0.60 WHIP prior to Tuesday’s start.
He started the season at Iowa and appeared in just one game at Iowa this season as a starter. He went three innings and allowed three hits and a run with three strikeouts.
Martin, 28, the team’s No. 28 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was selected by the Cubs in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Quincy University, where he compiled a 30-11 record over a five-year period from 2016-21.
He is the fifth Quincy University or Quincy College player to appear in a MLB game. Former QU coach and current athletic director Josh Rabe played outfield from 2006-07 with the Minnesota Twins. Pitcher Josh Kinney played from 2006-12 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners. Infielder Jim Finigan played from 1954-59 with the Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles. Catcher El Tappe played from 1954-62 for the Cubs.
During his senior year at QU in 2021, Martin earned GLVC Pitcher of the Year honors, as well as regional top hurler awards from D2CCA, NCBWA and ABCA. The senior tossed 78.2 innings, striking out 152 with a 3.55 ERA and a 9-3 record to lead the Hawks to an at-large berth in the NCAA Midwest Regional. In addition, Martin was named NCBWA All-America Third Team after starting 12 contests, holding opponents to a .221 batting average, and leading NCAA Div. II in total strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings.
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