LINCOLN – The Saltdogs signed RHP Shairon Martis (“SHY-rone MART-is”), a former big league pitcher with the Nationals and Twins, to a contract Friday.
Martis is 6-7 with a 5.35 ERA in 116 MLB innings over three seasons. The 28-year old from Willemstad, Curacao went 5-3 with a 5.25 ERA in 2009 for Washington, logging 85 2/3 innings and making 15 starts.
A member of the Dutch national team alongside Saltdogs INF Curt Smith, Martis helped his country to a 2011 World Cup win and a run to the 2013 World Baseball Classic semifinals.
Twice in his career, Martis has fired seven-inning no hitters: in 2011 for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators and in 2006 for the Netherlands against Panama, the first no-hitter in World Baseball Classic history.
In 9-plus minor league seasons, Martis is 61-51 with a 4.13 ERA in 996 innings pitched, including 700 1/3 in Double-A and Triple-A. He has earned three “Pitcher of the Week” honors during his time in the affiliated minor leagues, and played in the 2008 MLB futures game for the International team.
Martis most recently pitched in “The Show” in 2013 for the Twins, going 0-1 with a 5.59 ERA in nine games. He spent 2014 pitching for Uni-President Lions in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
The Saltdogs begin a six-game home stand tonight at 7:05 p.m. against Wichita in a rematch of the 2014 A.A. Championship Series. There will be a fireworks show after the game. For tickets, visit www.saltdogs.com or call 402-474-2255.