Mets Outfield Prospect Martinez Faces Another Setback

The New York Times—February 6, 2009

Fernando Martínez, the Mets' prized but oft-injured outfield prospect, has been shut down after straining his right elbow while playing for the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Series. Doctors at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, where Martinez was examined Friday, told him to rest for three weeks before beginning a throwing program.

Martínez, 20, spent most of last season with Class AA Binghamton, batting .292 with 8 home runs and 43 runs batted in. But he missed six weeks in May and June with a strained right hamstring. He also missed the final three months of the 2007 season with an injured right hand.

Martínez left the Series in Mexicali, Mexico, and flew to New York on Thursday night, but not before telling mlb.com that he felt his elbow "tighten up" while throwing Tuesday, when he hit a game-winning homer against Puerto Rico.

Read the full story at nytimes.com.