Once again the Minnesota Twins collectively didn't give fans much to cheer about on Wednesday, falling to the Baltimore Orioles in walk-off fashion. It's the fourth straight loss by the Twins after sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday in Detroit and sinks the team to 6-11 on the season.
Not everything was terrible, though, as Austin Martin stepped up to give Twins fans a glimmer of hope for both how the game would turn out and how he fits into the team's future.
Martin was in centerfield on Wednesday, subbing in for Byron Buxton who slid into the DH role after playing the first two games of the series in the field. That's the role we all assumed Martin would fill back in Spring Training before he was edged out of a spot on the 26-man roster.
He delivered on what we were all hoping for in the sixth inning when he channeled his inner Buxton and turned in a highlight reel catch -- the first of his career.
Austin Martin turns in a Web Gem highlight reel catch vs. Orioles
Not only did Martin make a diving catch to keep a run off the board, he did so by robbing Adley Rutschman of an RBI hit.
Austin Martin lays out for the @Twins! 💎 pic.twitter.com/2VsL0juWee
— MLB (@MLB) April 17, 2024
This came less than 24 hours after Buxton made a highlight reel catch of his own out in center on Tuesday night.
Things were a little tighter on Wednesday, and Martin not only kept the Twins in the game with his glove but gave them their first lead of the series a half inning later. He rocketed a double off Jacob Webb that scored Manuel Margot from first and gave Minnesota some hope.
Austin. Martin. pic.twitter.com/bCnfJkz5GV
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 17, 2024
The lead didn't last long, though, as Steven Okert gave up a game-tying home run an inning later and Griffin Jax uncharateristically allowed a walk-off home run to Cedric Mullins. Ironically, Mullins kicked off what was a series full of incredible centerfield catches on Monday with his own highlight reel grab.
Watching Martin not only flash his glove but back it up with some power at the plate is hopefully a sign of things to come. He was bumped off the 26-man roster initially but found his way onto it after an injury to Royce Lewis. We watched Edouard Julien follow a similar path to the Twins lineup and here's to hoping Martin is in the process of following in his steps.