NECBL Alumni in the Spotlight: Martinez Earns All-Star Nod; Kuroda-Grauer Shines in MLB Debut

Nick Martinez, who played two seasons for the Vermont Mountaineers, has been named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2026, replacing Boston Red Sox southpaw Ranger Suarez, who is currently on the 15-day IL. 

Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Fordham, Martinez debuted in the majors in 2014 and later spent four seasons in Japan from 2018 to 2021 before returning to The Show in 2022. 

Now an anchor of Tampa Bay's rotation, the 35-year-old righty has pitched to a career-best 2.65 ERA and a 1.120 WHIP in 105.1 innings. He becomes the fifth Rays player to be named an all-star this year, joining Junior Caminero, Drew Rasmussen, Bryan Baker and Yandy Diaz. 

Former Newport Gulls standout Joshua Kuroda-Grauer also reached a career milestone, making his major league debut two weeks ago for the Athletics against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on June 29. 

The Athletics selected Kuroda-Grauer in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and the former Rutgers standout reached the majors less than two years later. He made an immediate impact, going 3-for-4 with an RBI single in the Athletics' 9-4 loss. 

Kuroda-Grauer, the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year, has maintained that momentum. Through his first 12 games with the Athletics, he is batting .422 with a .435 on-base percentage and a .533 slugging percentage, good for a .968 OPS.

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The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat collegiate summer league featuring teams across all six New England states. Since its founding in 1994, the NECBL has produced more than 230 Major League Baseball alumni, including nearly 30 first-round MLB Draft selections. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on X, Instagram, and Facebook.