ANAHEIM, Calif. – At long last, J.D. Martinez is back.
It took him seven weeks, but Martinez was ready to play for the Tigers for the first time this season, rejoining them ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels.
“It felt like an eternity,” said Martinez, who started in rightfield and hit sixth. “But I’m here right now and I’m just looking to go forward.”
Martinez arrived at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Friday afternoon after waking up at 5 a.m. in Durham, N.C. He then flew out of nearby Raleigh.
Tigers general manager Al Avila asked Martinez to rejoin the team a couple of days early, after Jim Adduci was placed on the 10-day disabled list with an oblique strain.