Justin Martinez, the one successful reinforcement for the 2026 Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — When Arizona Diamondbacks leaders spoke about the club’s outlook for 2026, a common thread was the idea — or wishful thinking — that the roster would improve on its own given the number of players layering in from 2025 season-ending injuries.

The D-backs spent on a franchise-record payroll to help supplement the injuries, but all year, fans were kept on the hook waiting for the reinforcements to pay off.

It is hard to bet on players coming off such significant injuries, evidently, as the Diamondbacks received little-to-negative value for these returnees except for one: reliever Justin Martinez.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr., A.J. Puk, Corbin Burnes and even Cristian Mena combined for a -1.0 wins above replacement, with Puk and Mena never coming off the injured list.

Martinez — who was expected to be the last to return among the group — played a bigger role than he thought he would, eventually taking on higher leverage innings and pitching back-to-back games.

“My personal goal was come back and finish the year healthy, obviously help the team, and I was doing my best every time I was out there to try to do something to help the team. That was all,” Martinez said.

“I played for what, a month-and-a-half, 13 innings? They gave me more than I was expecting,” Martinez added. “I was expecting come back, finish healthy, like I said, and then everything started going the right way.”

Martinez finished with 13.1 innings and a 2.03 ERA, striking out 18 batters with 10 walks (four in his last outing).

Martinez did not allow a run until the final day of the regular season, by which point in the game Arizona had been eliminated from postseason contention. He said nobody goes home clean, so a hiccup was bound to happen.

He had an eventful six weeks.

Martinez delivered the fastest pitch of his career and the fastest recorded in Diamondbacks history at 103.8 mph.

He averaged 101.8 mph with his sinker and 101.6 mph with his four-seamer, the fastest average pitches in Major League Baseball. San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller finished second in velocity on both pitches.

His truly “I’m back” moment was on Sept. 11 at Chase Field, when Martinez threw an immaculate inning, striking out the side on nine pitches, the fifth one in franchise history.

It was an electric return for the 25-year-old from a 14-month absence and a positive sign that the potential closer Arizona signed to an extension is back on track.

The success also came in a small sample size as he was eased back in. The challenge entering the offseason will continue to be the management of his right elbow after two Tommy John surgeries to ensure he can handle a greater workload moving forward.

“I’m going to talk to the trainers and with (Dr. Keith) Meister, the doctor that did my surgery, to make a plan for my offseason and see what we’re doing,” Martinez said.

“I’m really proud about the work that I put in this year to come back. It’s just like, we just need to be better.”

Each of the players listed above tried like crazy to come back.

Gurriel astoundingly returned in April after tearing his ACL in September 2025, but he struggled to stay healthy all season and was eventually designated for assignment. Burnes was pushing for the All-Star break, but shoulder issues held him to three starts.

There are reasons to critique the Diamondbacks for their shortcomings in 2026 — bloated pitching contracts, lack of a viable first baseman, Game 161 bullpen game management and a quiet trade deadline, among them — but had people know in hindsight what little production was coming from the reinforcements, expectations back in spring may have looked a bit different. Arizona won 86 games and had opportunities to make the postseason before falling short once again.

These challenges also highlighted the improbability of Martinez looking sharp as quickly as he did.

Martinez, Juan Morillo and Brandyn Garcia are set to anchor the bullpen with young and high-octane arms next season, while the front office will be tasked with building up the group around them.

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