J.D. Martinez's Controversial Instagram Post Unearthed

Red Sox star slugger J.D. Martinez is the latest - and most high-profile - MLB player to find himself tangled in controversy following the uncovering of old social media posts.

A 2013 post from Martinez's Instagram account shows a picture of Adolf Hitler giving the Nazi salute behind text reading, "To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens." The caption, presumably written by Martinez, reads, "This is why I will always stay strapped. #thetruth".

It's unclear if Hitler ever said those words, though they are often attributed to him. Steve Buckley of The Boston Herald goes into the genesis of the quote here, where he gives Martinez an 'F' for history.

Martinez, 31 now, was 25 when he posted the photograph. It was unearthed on Monday. The post was still up as off late Tuesday morning.

Another post from Nov. 2012 displayed the text, "Obama will grab the early lead Tuesday, until the Republicans get off from work." Martinez added, "Love it!"

Some have chalked it up to partisan roughhousing, while others said it had racial undertones.

Before Tuesday night's game against Miami, Martinez told reporters that he's "here to play baseball guys, I'm not a politician."

"That's why I don't talk about politics," he said. "I don't want this distraction."

Martinez is a leading MVP and Triple Crown candidate this year, having sparked the Red Sox' climb to the top of the league. He leads the American League in batting average and RBIs, and is second in home runs.

Yet for all his production (and his nearly 230,000 Instagram followers,) the first-year Red Sox has avoided the spotlight his predecessors demanded. Unlike Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz - other hitters who came in and put up video game-like numbers their first season with the team - Martinez just hits and goes home, largely avoiding off-field headlines or commercials.

Martinez signed a five-year, $110 million dollar contract in the offseason. He can opt out after next year.

(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)