Muckdogs Make First Hire, Manager/Head Coach in Place for 2021 Season

The Muckdogs are proud to announce their first signing for the 2021 campaign is complete as they bring on Manager/Head Coach Jose (Joe) Martinez.

Martinez returns to the PGCBL where he had success as the head coach of the Utica (NY) Blue Sox. In 2018, Joe team finished with a 25-21 record. Under Martinez’s leadership, the Blue Sox placed five players on the PGCBL All Star team and a host of players on the PGCBL All League list at the conclusion of the season. Joe’s team finished third in the PGCBL in team batting average and finished the year with the most single-season “walk off” wins in Blue Sox history.

In addition to his time managing in the PGCBL, Martinez has additionally served as the head instructor and assistant coach at the Frozen Ropes Baseball Academy, owner/operator of the Scorpion Baseball Academy, and assistant coach/hitting instructor in the Tidewater College Summer League. As a professional player, Joe played shortstop for the Detroit Tigers for two seasons and played in the AA Puerto Rico Winter League (1995-1996). Martinez played college baseball at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, earning All-Conference recognition both seasons and being voted Team Captain and MVP by his teammates. Joe hit a smooth .435 in his first season and .465 in his second season.

Coach Martinez was very excited to get going in Batavia “I am originally from the city so going up (to central NY) is like a coming home party for me. This is where my baseball career started.” Martinez continued “The PGCBL is one of the top leagues in the country. It is very well organized and very professional. The talent that this league brings in makes it a great place to be. I have some solid commitments and every day I’m on the phone. I am talking with guys from Memphis University, Princeton, Tallahassee, Montevallo, University of Texas, Alabama State, and we are working on bringing them here to Batavia. This ballpark alone is such a huge recruiting tool. Being a newer field, it is a huge selling point for me with these recruits.”

When discussing what made Batavia and CAN-USA Sports the right decision to come back to play Joe said “Robbie is super professional. We have been very straight forward and I am looking forward to working with him. Everyone in this league says he does things the right way. Hopefully, this will be a long term relationship where we are competing for a championship year in and year out.”

Season Tickets are on sale now! You can call 607-734-7825 or email mwitt.canusa@gmail.com and reserve your spot at Dwyer Stadium for the first pitch and everyone that follows!