Living In a Sports Shutdown--PCC Baseball's Marco Martinez Gives Student-Athlete Perspective

On his way to likely a second consecutive All-American season for himself, Pasadena City College baseball sophomore Marco Martinez saw the 2020 season abruptly close for his team and all other CCCAA athletics sports earlier this month. The world health crisis over the spread of the coronavirus has affected every level of sports competition and Martinez is one of thousands of student-athletes coping with the shutdown.

Lancers slugger Marco Martinez earned a NCAA Division I scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.

March 25, 2020

On his way to likely a second consecutive All-American season for himself, Pasadena City College baseball sophomore Marco Martinez saw the 2020 season abruptly close for his team and all other CCCAA athletics sports earlier this month. The world health crisis over the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected every level of sports competition and Martinez is one of thousands of collegiate student-athletes coping with the shutdown.

After 21 games, Martinez had led PCC in eight different batting categories and was leading the state in on-base percentage (.574). His 22 RBI, 25 runs scored, 25 walks, and .627 slugging percentage led the South Coast Conference and his .388 batting average was second in the conference. A South Coast MVP season was possibly on the horizon for him, but his final 2020 game, like all of the Lancers, was played earlier this month.

On March 5, fittingly in his last game in front of the home fans at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field, Martinez launched a home run over the right field fence and added two line drive RBI singles in a 7-4 Lancers win over Cerritos.

Last year, the third baseman set a school record for walks in a season (36) and his 40 runs scored was the third highest total in PCC history. He helped the Lancers tie for the SCC North Division championship and earn the program's third straight trip to the Southern California Regionals.

"Marco absolutely elevated his game this year," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "You put in the work with the intention that your program will have an impact on players upon their arrival but it's ultimately going to come down to a player's willingness to evolve. Marco accepted that challenge head on and as a result we watched him become an absolute force at the community college level.

"The plate discipline and mature approach is a level of play for his age that I've only experienced and seen from a select few throughout the duration of my coaching career. I am beyond proud of Marco and what he's been able to do. An opposing coach said it best when they were discussing whether or not to intentionally walk him in a recent series. A member of their staff that spent the large majority of his life as a major leaguer responded with 'no pitch to the kid, it's a privilege to watch him hit.' That sums up the respect and admiration he has commanded from his teammates, coaches and even opponents!"

Martinez came to PCC from Maranatha High where he was an All-CIF selection and the Pasadena Star-News Player of the Year.

The following is a Q&A with Martinez.

Q: You were having a big follow-up season to last year, how did you initially handle the news of the shutdown and was it a shock to you and your teammates?
Marco: My initial response to this all was that nothing that was being said could be real. There is no logical way they can just end an entire season. The conclusion of the season exceeded everyone's imagination. It was hard to come to the realization that we will not be able to play again. There was no one I can think of who played baseball collegiately that was not in shock after what has happened.

Q: What has been the biggest thing you've missed as a college student-athlete since the season was shut down?

Marco: The biggest thing that I miss most is competing with my teammates. It is hard to take your mind and body off not being in season when a couple days before it was shut down, we were all together in the same dugout, competing against another group of guys who wanted to play just as bad.

Q: Are you pleased that the California Community Colleges and NCAA are handing back the year of eligibility to Spring sports participants?

Marco: I am thrilled that the CCCAA and NCAA are giving all Spring athletes a year back, as it is the right thing to do, but the influence on the collegiate baseball community as a whole will be tremendous now with an abundance of players at every level. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made to the maximum amount of scholarships being able to be given out and roster size at the next level.

Q: What have you done to stay in shape and pass the time to replace the lost practices/games?

Marco: I am blessed to have a key to a local baseball facility, so my training and practice has not skipped a beat. It is a luxury that I am grateful to have to be able to work out and hit on my own schedule.

Q: What have you been able to do that you wouldn't have been able to do since the shut down, or what have you done to pass some of the down time?
Marco: With all this time I have now, it gives me a lot more time to read, something I enjoy doing. I'm also able to hang out with my little sisters, something that was hard for me to do during season because of how long my days were.

Q: What has been the best part of attending/playing at PCC? Do you feel you've grown as a player from high school?
Marco: The best part for me to be at PCC is the challenge to get better as an athlete and most importantly as a student. Discipline and accountability are both talked highly of throughout the baseball program which is something that can be carried on and off the field. Since high school I do indeed believe my skills and work ethic as a player has grown since my stint in this program. But where I have seen the biggest strides are my growth in character and leadership on and off the field.