Full Breakdown
Justin Martinez Throws Immaculate Inning as Diamondbacks’ Bullpen Gains a Boost
By Drooid · · How we work
Immaculate Inning Achieved by Justin Martinez
On June 4, 2025, Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Justin Martinez recorded an immaculate inning in the sixth against the Texas Rangers at Chase Field, striking out Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jake Burger on nine consecutive pitches. All three batters were retired via swinging strikeouts, with one foul ball, three called strikes and five swinging strikes. Martinez’s fastball reached 102.6 mph, averaging 101.5 mph on his four-seam deliveries (Associated Press).
Background: Return from Tommy John Surgery
The 25-year-old right-hander missed the bulk of the 2025 season and more than half of 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned to the major-league roster earlier this year and, through eight outings, has not allowed an earned run (Associated Press). His workload remains limited—7.2 innings pitched, two runs (both unearned), five walks, two hits and eight strikeouts (Sports Illustrated).
Statistical Significance and Franchise History
Martinez’s feat marked the fifth immaculate inning in Diamondbacks history dating back to 1998 (Associated Press). It was also the second such inning in the 2026 season, the first being Michael Soroka’s on March 30 (ABC News, Sports Illustrated). The franchise had not recorded an immaculate inning in the previous 13 seasons, making the back-to-back occurrences a first for an Arizona season (Sports Illustrated).
Managerial and Player Perspectives
Manager Torey Lovullo praised Martinez’s performance, noting the pitcher’s “nasty” stuff, command, and the rarity of pairing 100-mph velocity with precise control (Sports Illustrated). Martinez himself said he feels increasingly comfortable after each outing and is focused on maintaining his form (Sports Illustrated).
Implications for Arizona’s Bullpen
The immaculate inning underscores the resurgence of Martinez as a high-leverage reliever, potentially strengthening a bullpen already regarded as a surprise strength for the Diamondbacks. With the team in a playoff chase, his ability to dominate in short stints could provide a valuable asset down the stretch (Sports Illustrated).
