42. Pedro Martinez
Despite standing just under six feet tall and weighing only 170 pounds, Pedro Martinez was a giant on the mound, a pitcher who was not afraid of anyone and would challenge any hitter at any time.
While he initially came up with a blazing fastball, Martinez reinvented himself as he mastered a devastating changeup. Despite that change in focus, he was still one of the great strikeout pitchers of his time, leading the league three times to go along with five ERA titles and his impeccable control. He made eight All-Star Games, and won the Cy Young award three times, finishing in the top five on four other occasions.
In his career, Martinez had a 219-100 record with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.054 WHiP, striking out 3154 batters in 2827.1 innings. He ranks sixth all time in WHiP and in winning percentage, and is 13th in strikeouts. Martinez ranks third with 10.04 strikeouts per nine innings, and fourth with 4.15 strikeouts per walk.
Martinez was one of the few that were able to completely transition from being a hard thrower to being a control based strikeout artist. He turned his changeup into a true weapon, spotting his pitches and painting the corners like a true master. He certainly earned his place as a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2015.
One of the greatest pitchers of his time, Pedro Martinez cemented his place as a legend of the game when he helped lead the Red Sox to their first title in 86 years in 2004, helping to end the Curse of the Bambino. Of all his accomplishments, that one may withstand the test of time, making Martinez even more of a legend than he already is.
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