Martini elected free agency Friday.
He was removed from the Reds' 40-man roster and will test out free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Martini slashed .212/.272/.370 over 52 games with Cincinnati this season.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Activated and optioned
Rotowire
The Reds activated Martini (thumb) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to their Arizona Complex League affiliate Wednesday.
Martini is recovered from his thumb surgery, but the Reds have decided they didn't have a spot for him on their active roster right now. The 34-year-old has slashed .212/.272/.370 over 52 games with Cincinnati this season.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Martini (thumb) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Martini had originally been targeting Tuesday as the start date for his assignment, so it's possible the 34-year-old is ahead of schedule in his recovery. It's unclear how many games he will play in the minors, though there's still a good chance he rejoins the Reds before the end of the season.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Reds transferred Martini (thumb) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Saturday.
Martini underwent thumb surgery earlier in the week, and Reds manager David Bell said at the time that the 34-year-old would be out until at least September. His move to the 60-day IL confirms as much, as Martini isn't eligible to be activated until Sept. 6. The move also frees up a spot on Cincinnati's 40-man roster for right-hander Tony Santillan, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Undergoes thumb surgery
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Wednesday that Martini will likely be out until September after undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his left thumb, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Martini landed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend with the injury and has opted to have it surgically repaired. He's expected to come off the IL before the end of the season, but a precise target date for his return won't become clear until he's able to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Shut down with thumb injury
Rotowire
The Reds placed Martini on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a left thumb injury.
Martini had started in left field in each of the past three games while going 3-for-8 with a home run, a triple, two walks, two runs and two RBI over that stretch, but the thumb injury will prevent him from building on that momentum. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Martini underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with a sprain, which he suffered when he jammed his left thumb while sliding into second base in Saturday's 5-3 loss. Infielder Livan Soto was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Swats homer in win
Rotowire
Martini went 1-for-1 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Yankees.
Martini put the Reds on top early with a second-inning home run, his fifth of the season and first in 12 games since being recalled from the minors. He later walked and was removed once a left-hander entered the game. He's been a steady lineup presence lately against right-handers, a deployment that should continue until TJ Friedl (hamstring) is ready to return.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Hitting bench in Candelario's return
Rotowire
Martini is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Martini had started in each of the past four games, but his uptick in playing time appears to be linked to Jeimer Candelario (hamstring) missing each of those contests. With Candelario back in the lineup Sunday as the Reds' designated hitter, Martini's opportunities are likely to take a hit moving forward.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Martini isn't in the Reds' lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Martini went 0-for-4 and struck out twice Saturday during his first game back from a hand injury, and he'll now take a seat for Sunday's series finale. His absence will open up a spot for Stuart Fairchild to start in center field while batting ninth.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Out Wednesday with hand injury
Rotowire
Martini is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Pirates due to a hand injury, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Martini is apparently still sore after taking a pitch to the hand in Monday's 4-1 loss in the series opener, so he'll hit the bench for a second day in a row even while the Pirates bring a right-hander (Mitch Keller) to the hill. In Martini's absence, Jacob Hurtubise will enter the lineup in left field while Jake Fraley gets a day out of the outfield and serves as the Reds' designated hitter.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Reds recalled Martini from Triple-A Louisville on Friday.
He's taking the roster spot vacated by Blake Dunn, who was optioned to Louisville on Thursday. Martini has slashed .200/.242/.355 with four home runs in 38 games with the big club this season. He could see the occasional start against righties but mostly figures to operate as a bench bat.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
Martini was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Martini will move to Louisville despite batting .258 with a home run and seven runs scored over nine games upon being called up from Triple-A on May 22. He'll be replaced on the active roster by outfielder Blake Dunn, whose contract was selected from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Settling back into everyday role
Rotowire
Martini will start at designated hitter and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
He'll stick in the starting nine for the fourth game in a row after getting on base five times in 12 plate appearances in the last three contests. With center fielder TJ Friedl (thumb) returning from the injured list Wednesday, the Reds are notably keeping Martini in the lineup over Jacob Hurtubise, who had been handling an everyday role for most of the two-and-a-half-week period that Friedl was sidelined.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Reds recalled Martini from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old had a .529 OPS for the Reds before being optioned to Louisville on May 7, though he posted a .364/.563/.818 slash line in eight games during his time at Triple-A. Martini was seeing regular action at designated hitter against right-handed pitching prior to being demoted, but he'll now have to compete with Mike Ford for those at-bats.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Homers, collects three hits
Rotowire
Martini went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs scoring during Sunday's 11-4 win over the White Sox.
Martini's two-run blast was his third of the season, while the three hits were a season high. Martini began the season with a bang, hammering two homers in the season opener, but had collected just four more hits prior to Sunday. His outburst raised his average 59 points from .231 to .290.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Sits versus lefty
Rotowire
Martini is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus Milwaukee.
Martini will once again head to the bench as the Brewers send out Aaron Ashby to pitch Monday. Jonathan India will serve as the designated hitter while Santiago Espinal receives a start at second base.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Delivers run in win
Rotowire
Martini started at designated hitter and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Phillies.
The Reds have faced right-handed starters four times thus far and the lefty-batting Martini has served as the DH in all four. He leads the team with nine RBI and has thrived with runners on base. Martini is 0-for-5 with no runners on but 5-for-10 when bases are occupied.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Sits versus lefty
Rotowire
Martini is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Phillies.
With lefty Cristopher Sanchez on the bump for Philadelphia, the lefty-hitting Martini will take a seat for the second time in four games to begin the season. Martini has gone 4-for-8 with two home runs, one double, one walk, seven RBI and an additional run so far this season, so he should be locked into a regular role against right-handed pitching as the Reds' designated hitter while he's wielding a hot bat.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Starting in season opener
Rotowire
Martini will serve as the Reds' designated hitter and No. 8 batter in Thursday's season opener versus the Nationals.
At least against right-handed pitching, Martini looks like he'll get the first opportunity to fill the lineup spot that was opened up by TJ Friedl (wrist) and Matt McLain (shoulder) beginning the season the injured list and by Noelvi Martin serving an 80-game suspension to begin the season. Though the Reds' logjam in the infield and outfield is alleviated to some degree by those absent players, the lefty-hitting Martini will still likely need to find some early success against right-handed pitching to ensure he sticks in a strong-side platoon role. Over 361 career plate appearances versus righties, Martini has slashed .288/.380/.449 with eight home runs.
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Reds' Nick Martini: Earns roster spot
Rotowire
Martini was told he made Cincinnati's Opening Day roster, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
The Reds made a few moves Friday, including reassigning Mike Ford to minor-league camp. Ford, who was later released by the organization, was limited defensively to first base, while Martini can play outfield and first base. That versatility will help manager David Bell navigate the opening month of the season when three projected regulars will be unavailable due to injury or suspension. Martini celebrated the news Friday by smashing his fourth spring home run. The 33-year-old, who launched six homers in 72 at-bats for the Reds in 2023, will also serve as the lefty power bat off the bench.
