Former Major League outfielder José Martínez has joined the Minnesota Twins organization as a minor league hitting coach, marking his first coaching role in affiliated professional baseball.
Martínez announced the move on social media Friday, writing in Spanish that he was filled with pride to begin “a new stage as a hitting coach in the Minnesota Twins organization.” He thanked God and those who have guided him, expressed a desire for continued health and strength, and emphasized his intention to share the knowledge he gained as a player to help others build their own paths. He closed with the message “Créelo primero” (“Believe it first”).
Cafe jr on X (formerly Twitter): “Hoy me llena de orgullo compartir con ustedes que comienzo una nueva etapa como coach de bateo en la organización de los Mellizos de Minnesota.Le doy gracias a Dios y a todos los que me guían desde arriba. Les pido que me sigan dando salud y fortaleza para seguir superándome,… pic.twitter.com/oZJlIy1nGO / X”
Hoy me llena de orgullo compartir con ustedes que comienzo una nueva etapa como coach de bateo en la organización de los Mellizos de Minnesota.Le doy gracias a Dios y a todos los que me guían desde arriba. Les pido que me sigan dando salud y fortaleza para seguir superándome,…
The 38-year-old Venezuelan spent the bulk of his five-year MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2016 to 2019. He posted a career batting line of .289/.356/.447 with 43 home runs and 182 RBIs across 432 games. His strongest seasons came in St. Louis, where he hit .309 with 14 home runs in 2017 and .305 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs in 2018. He later appeared with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs in 2020 before a meniscus injury sustained in a spring training collision with an umpire in 2021 with the New York Mets effectively ended his major league playing career. He continued playing in the Mexican League and Venezuelan winter ball through 2025.
Martínez, affectionately known as “Cafecito” during his time in St. Louis, became a fan favorite for his productive bat and energetic presence. Cardinals fans will recognize him as the player who arrived as a minor league free agent and produced multiple seasons of above-average offense before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside Randy Arozarena in the January 2020 deal that sent Matthew Liberatore to St. Louis.
The Twins’ major league coaching staff for 2026 is already set under new manager Derek Shelton, with Keith Beauregard serving as the primary hitting coach. Martínez’s role is in the minor league system, where he will work with developing hitters. For an organization focused on player development, his experience as a late-blooming hitter who carved out a productive MLB career after years in the minors and international baseball could prove valuable.
Martínez’s transition into coaching continues a recent trend of former players moving quickly into instructional roles. His announcement comes months after he publicly expressed interest in remaining in professional baseball in a coaching capacity. While he had previously voiced a preference for returning to the Cardinals organization, the Twins provided the opportunity for his first formal coaching position in affiliated ball.
The hire adds another experienced former major leaguer to the Twins’ player development staff as the organization continues building under new leadership. For Martínez, it represents the start of a second career in the sport he has known since his youth in Venezuela.
