Impact Of A Scholarship: Kevin Martir

A scholarship to play baseball at the University of Maryland changed Kevin Martir’s life. 

Martir, the former Terps catcher from 2013-15, was born and raised in East New York, Brooklyn, a place once notorious as the ‘Killing Fields.’ Baseball became his beacon of hope, leading him to a successful run with the Terps and a new life of opportunity. Now, he’s coaching the game he loves for the New York Yankees.  

“Baseball kind of saved my life in all aspects when it comes to education [and] getting out of the streets,” Martir said. “Without that scholarship, I probably wouldn't be where I am today and who I am today.”

Martir’s family emigrated from the Dominican Republic. His parents worked tirelessly to provide for him and his siblings, but a young Martir was often in the streets and hanging around the wrong crowd as a byproduct of the environment he grew up in.  

Martir developed a love for baseball around the same time. He later began playing travel baseball and realized he needed to select a new group of friends and change his environment if he wanted to make a career out of it. 

Martir reflected on growing up in Brooklyn, “You couldn't be outside too late,” he said. “You had to know who's who in specific areas. You kind of tread lightly around, just trying not to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Having a best friend with whom he shared much in common helped Martir steer in the right direction. He grew up playing with and against Jose Cuas, who later became his teammate at Maryland. 

Martir attended private school at Xaverian for his first three years of high school, where he took an hour-and-a-half train ride every morning to the other side of Brooklyn. His parents were always working, so sometimes he had to wake up at 5 a.m. to make it to school in time for a 7 a.m. practice. 

He led Xaverian to the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) state title his junior year before transferring to Grand Street Campus, where he attended school with Cuas for his final year. Martir and Cuas led the Wolves to a Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) title. 

Martir became the first player in New York to win back-to-back championships in the CHSAA and PSAL. 

Martir and Cuas began being recruited by the Terps when they traveled to an Area Code Baseball tryout in New Jersey. 

“Growing up in Brooklyn, not many people talk about college,” Martir said. “I didn't even really hear of the University of Maryland. They reached out, and then I kind of did my homework. I saw that they played in the ACC and were playing against big-time baseball schools.”

Maryland offered both kids from East New York, and Martir wisely sought advice from one of his coaches and mentors at the time, David Owens. The young star remembers the conversation he had with Owens well.

“‘You have a chance to start as a freshman at a school that's playing an ACC,’” Martir recalls Owens saying. “‘It could be something that can be turned around, maybe you make a difference, or maybe you two make an impact and bring a different feel to the University of Maryland.’”

Erik Bakich, then an assistant with Maryland, came to Martir’s house to meet him and his family. 

“He came and sat in my living room and spoke to my parents,” Martir said. “He really liked me as a player and wanted me to attend the University of Maryland. I don't think that many coaches did that, especially in the neighborhood where I grew up.”

Martir fell in love with Maryland when he visited its campus, and he and Cuas committed to the university. They leaned on each other and hoped to turn Terps baseball into a winning program. 

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound catcher immediately became a star as a freshman in 2013, and the team's success followed the next season. The Terps made their first-ever Super Regional in 2014 and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1971. Martir was named to the Columbia All-Regional team and earned ACC All-Tournament honors that season. 

In 2015, Martir’s junior season, Maryland recorded back-to-back campaigns of 40 or more wins and became back-to-back regional champions, both firsts in school history. Martir also earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors. 

Martir and Cuas fulfilled their hopes, but Martir says his fondest memories had more to do with the bond he developed with teammates away from the diamond. He thanked the university for affording him lasting memories through a baseball scholarship. 

“The scholarship was a big help because I didn't come from money,” Martir said. “My parents did enough to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. But it was really special that Maryland was able to provide that scholarship for someone like me.”

Martir left school early because he was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2015. However, he briefly returned to Maryland baseball during his second offseason as a student assistant. He then signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 but was released in less than a year. He returned once more as a student assistant, this time with the team for the spring season while earning his degree in 2018.   

Martir began his coaching career shortly after. He became a player-coach for the Philadelphia Phillies and later a minor league development coach for their Dominican Republic Academy in Santo Domingo. 

In December 2019, Martir was hired as a hitting coach for the Yankees. He’s been working for the franchise ever since and is currently with their Double-A affiliate, Somerset Patriots. Martir says his time as a student assistant at Maryland helped prepare him for his coaching career.

“[Maryland] kind of got my feet wet, especially on the coaching side,” Martir said. “I learned a ton from Rob [Vaughn], [John] Szefc, [Jim] Belanger, Cory Haines and [Matt] Swope.”

Martir always remembers where he came from. He also attributes his current position to where it all started as a scholarship to play baseball for the Terps. He gave his message to the Terrapin Club donors who made it possible. 

“Guys like me are forever indebted to the donors because without them, it wouldn't be possible to receive such a prestigious education from the University of Maryland and also play for an elite program,” he said.