Pedro Martinez may be a Hall of Fame pitcher, but after watching Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris take McLaren to a stunning one-two finish in Miami, he is eyeing a different kind of fastball. The kind that comes with four wheels and also a checkered flag, rather than a bat!
The Boston Red Sox legend was trackside during McLaren’s breakthrough performance in Miami. He cheered on his longtime friend, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. After the team’s massive win, Pedro couldn’t hold back on his joy.
Pedro Martinez rushed towards Brown in the paddock and embraced him in a huge bear hug. He said, “I am proud of you and everything you have done.” The entire thing was posted by Pedro Martinez on his Instagram. But really, what stole the show was the caption of the post.
Pedro captioned the post, “Glad to be here backing my friend Zak Brown and the McLaren team. You did it, Papaya! But next time, I’m driving! ” Norris and Piastri better watch out–Pedro’s coming for their seats. But then, this is classic Martinez— playful, bold, and full of love.
However, Zac Brown and Pedro Martinez’s friendship goes deeper than just a race day photo op. Brown has also always come to support Pedro, and just last year he attended the Pedro Martínez Foundation Gala in Boston. He said, “I’m proud to call him a friend,” praising his friend’s efforts to support the youth in the Dominican Republic through the healthcare, sports, and education mediums.
Also, Brown, best known for helping McLaren get back into contention and now even beating the almost unbeatable Red Bull and Max Verstappen, is a devoted baseball fan. He also collects baseball memorabilia and earlier even participated in fantasy baseball camps. So, a shared respect and passion is what makes their friendship so special. And while Pedro might not suit up in orange anytime soon, his space at the celebratory win at Papaya Quarter seems reserved!
Pedro Martinez and his friendships
Pedro Martinez being there for his friends and just being appreciative of them is nothing new. Those who know him know that he is more than just a baseball legend. His greatness extends way beyond the mound and into the way he shows up for his people, time and again. Take his friendship with legendary Red Sox announcer Joe Castiglione, for example.
In 2004, before Game 4 of the ALCS, the Boston Red Sox was staring down a 0-3 deficit to the Yankees. Most had already lost all hope, but not Joe. He kept the faith and kept Pedro believing it too. “Joe kept saying, ‘One day we’ll beat the Yankees. Just wait,’” Pedro recalled, years later, the time of Joe’s retirement. Joe wasn’t a voice in the radio, it turns out; he was the friend who helped Pedro Martinez carry that weight. Pedro said, “He called every pitch I ever threw at Fenway. That’s something no one else can say.”
Of course, this is his epic friendship with David Ortiz—Big Papi. When he was shot in the Dominican Republic, Pedro broke down on national TV. He talked about how Papi was more than just a teammate for him. “He’s a brother… a lifesaver… someone who worked hard to become everything good we want to see in a man.” One could almost feel the pain in his voice, and he wasn’t speaking as a broadcaster on TV; he was speaking as a family.
That is the thing with him—his career might have been built on a fight, but behind all that is a soft heart. And so, it’s not just his arm that’s special. Don’t you think?
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