Former Storm Catcher Luis Martinez Called Up To Padres

Another member of the Lake Elsinore Storm family got called up to join the big boys.

Former Storm catcher Luis Martinez, who in 2009 with the team hit .300 with four home runs and 31 runs batted in within 83 games, was promoted to join the San Diego Padres last week.

According to MLB.com’s Padres Website, Martinez joined the club after Padres starter Nick Hundley underwent arthroscopic surgery on July 8 in San Diego to remove loose particles in his right elbow. Dr. Heinz Hoeneicke removed three fragments on the joint and shaved down a bone spur.

Hundley is expected to miss between three to six weeks.

Martinez, who is on the team’s roster serving as a backup catcher behind current Padres starting catcher Rob Johnson and fellow backup Kyle Phillips, has not yet appeared in a big-league game.

“Something was wrong [with Hundley], and I was getting called up,” Martinez said to MLB.com associate reporter AJ Cassavell. “I tried not to get too excited, but when I was told that, I couldn't believe it. I can just go out there and catch the bullpens and just get a feel for their pitches and their styles of pitching. That's really the main concern -- and to try and get to know them on a personal level as well.”

With the Tucson Padres this season, the 26-year-old Martinez was hitting .313 with 12 doubles and 18 RBIs in only 38 games, despite battling hamstring injuries that caused him to miss a good chunk of time.

San Diego manager Bud Black told MLB.com on July 8 he is looking forward to watching Martinez hit.

"He sprays the ball around, and he puts the ball in play," Black said. "Line-drive singles and line drives gap to gap."

Other former Lake Elsinore players who were called up to San Diego include starting pitcher Anthony Bass, who earned a victory on June 12, then was sent back down to Double-A San Antonio.