Mets Bring Back Slugger J.D. Martinez as Special Assistant

Six-time All-Star aims to mentor young players after standout 14-year MLB career

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:54pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the geometric shapes and planes of a baseball player's batting stance and swing, rendered in a bold color palette of navy, green, and orange to capture the dynamic energy of the sport.The Mets' new special assistant J.D. Martinez brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to mentor the team's young players.Today in Miami

The New York Mets have hired former slugger J.D. Martinez as a special assistant, with the six-time All-Star looking to provide mentorship and guidance to the team's young players. Martinez, who played for the Mets in 2024, will work closely with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and share his experiences of overcoming early career struggles to become one of the game's elite hitters.

Why it matters

The addition of Martinez as a special assistant gives the Mets a valuable resource with deep playing experience to help develop their young talent. After struggling to find mentorship early in his own career, Martinez is eager to pay it forward and provide the kind of guidance he wished he had received when he was coming up.

The details

Martinez, a 20th round draft pick out of Division II Nova Southeastern University, had a breakout 14-year MLB career that included six All-Star selections, three Silver Slugger awards, and a World Series championship with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. After a modest 2024 season with the Mets as a designated hitter, the 36-year-old Miami native has retired from playing and is now looking to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation of Mets stars.

  • Martinez played his final MLB season with the Mets in 2024.
  • Martinez officially retired from playing last spring.

The players

J.D. Martinez

A six-time MLB All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger who played 14 seasons in the majors, including a stint with the Mets in 2024. He is now joining the Mets organization as a special assistant to help mentor the team's young players.

David Stearns

The president of baseball operations for the New York Mets, who will work closely with Martinez in his new role.

Carlos Beltran

A former MLB player who is now a Hall of Famer, and will serve as another experienced voice to guide the Mets' young talent alongside Martinez.

Carlos Mendoza

A Mets coach who praised the impact Martinez had on the team both on and off the field during his time as a player in 2024.

Freddy Peralta

A pitcher the Mets recently added, who Martinez believes will be a key part of the team's improved pitching staff.

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What they’re saying

“Just my knowledge with that and just helping any way I can, anything I see, whether it's in the offense, whether it's the strategy, whether it's mentorship, I'm just here to help out any way I can.”

— J.D. Martinez, Special Assistant

“Right away yesterday, having those interactions with him and watching him in the cages with the boys, behind the cage in batting practice, it's just the presence to it, not only with J.D. but having Carlos around too.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Coach

“Those are great baseball minds, not only in the hitting department but just baseball in general.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Coach

What’s next

Martinez plans to be in regular communication with the Mets' players and plans to visit the team for homestands throughout the season to provide hands-on mentorship and guidance.

The takeaway

The Mets' addition of J.D. Martinez as a special assistant demonstrates their commitment to developing their young talent by providing them access to experienced, successful players who can share their knowledge and help the next generation of Mets stars reach their full potential.