Martinez resigns as Marlins' hitting coach
First-year Miami Marlins hitting coach Tino Martinez resigned on Sunday amid allegations he abused players verbally and physically.
The team announced the move following Sunday's game.
"We've accepted Tino Martinez's resignation as hitting coach postgame today," said Larry Beinfest, Marlins president of baseball operations, in a news conference, according to the Miami Herald.
According to the Herald report, Martinez admitted he grabbed rookie second baseman Derek Dietrich by the front of his jersey in early May and "overreacted" and "probably" swore with others in his attempt to be firm with some of the Marlins' young players.
"I want to apologize to the Marlins organization for my behavior," said Martinez, 45. "I think I was frustrated at times, the way players were behaving and, certain ways they were doing things. When I asked them to do something and they wouldn't do it, whatever it may be, I thought the way to get through was by being firm with them, and I probably used some four-letter words."
Martinez, who played 16 years in the majors, disputed media reports that he grabbed Dietrich by the neck.
"That only thing I've done is, I did grab Dietrich - we had a little thing in the [batting] cage one day - by the jersey," Martinez said. "That was it. I never touched his neck. I never grabbed his neck. If anything else, [I want] his parents to know that because I have a 20-year-old son and I would be very upset if someone grabbed my son's neck. That never happened."
According to the Herald, Martinez had shown a pattern of abusive behavior from the beginning of spring training and often made threats.
