Former Le Grand High star will continue playing baseball in college closer to home

Former Le Grand High star Aaron Martinez grew up excelling in football and baseball.

However, a knee injury sidelined Martinez for his senior year in football. That made it tough to send highlight videos out to colleges.

Martinez, who graduated from Le Grand High in 2022, opted to continue playing baseball in college, spending the last two years playing at Modesto Junior College.

Martinez’s baseball journey will continue after the former Bulldog standout signed his national letter of intent to play at Fresno Pacific University.

“I’m really excited, it’s something I always wanted to do was play baseball all the way through college,” Martinez said. “I’m excited this opportunity came about.”

Baseball has taken Martinez to Canada where he’s currently playing in a summer league.

“It’ll be fun to experience something different,” said Martinez about playing in Canada.

Martinez played 41 games for Modesto this spring, finishing with a .301 batting average. The third baseman hit two home runs, eight doubles, 41 runs scored and 38 RBI.

Martinez chose Fresno Pacific because he likes the program, the school and it’s an opportunity to play close to home.

“It’s a good program,” Martinez said. “They have nice facilities and they are upgrading the baseball stadium. There wasn’t really much more I could ask for, it’s close to home, good program and nice facilities.”

Martinez plans to major in kinesiology with hopes of becoming a physical therapist. He said coming back from his knee injury gave him a glimpse of how physical therapist can help people. His cousin Ryan Martinez is also a physical therapist.

“I’ve always been interested in the body and helping people,” Martinez said. “After going through what I went through, it helped pull away from other things I was considering. My cousin Ryan does it as well. I want to help people get back to being themselves.”