Texas A&M softball head coach Jo Evans has announced the addition of transfer catcher/utility Kelly Martinez.
Martinez, a junior from Yucaipa, Calif., is eligible to compete immediately for the Aggies and has two years of eligibility remaining.
“We are excited to have Kelly join the program,” Evans said. “She was very successful the past two years in the Pac-12 where she proved she can compete against great competition. She will be an immediate impact in our program.
“What is appealing is her versatility. She is a great catcher, but has the ability to play the infield and is willing to do whatever it takes to be in our lineup and win games. Offensively, she has been successful against some of the best pitching in the country, and has been able to produce in RBI situations and has good power.”
Last season, Martinez started every game for Utah, registering a .310 batting average with three home runs and 22 RBI. She led the team with five triples, was second with nine doubles and ranked third in runs with 29.
As a freshman in 2017, Martinez started all 53 games at catcher and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She hit .270 with eight home runs, 34 RBI and five doubles. Martinez garnered Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors following her performance against No. 1 Arizona where she batted .500, slugged .625 and had the highest on-base percentage on the team at .556.
“I knew I needed a fresh start and Coach Evans made me feel welcome from the first phone call with her,” Martinez said. “Once I was able to visit the campus, Texas A&M immediately felt like home. I can’t wait to join the team and get ready for the upcoming season.”
