San Diego Padres' right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez received high praise from his Team USA teammate and his National League Championship Series opponent, Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto. In an interview with The Athletic, Realmuto revealed that it was he who lobbied for Martinez to be included in the World Baseball Classic roster.

Realmuto spoke highly of the 31-year-old Martinez, saying, “when DeRo called me and asked, I said, 'you've got to get that guy. He's an absolute stud. He's got the right demeanor. He commands the mound, just has a great presence out there. I think he's a perfect fit for what we need.'"

The Padres' trusty reliever put up impressive numbers in 2023. In 37 games, Martinez achieved a 2.67 ERA and whiffed 48 batters. He was a go-to option for