Pedro Martínez’s unusual hobby helps him unwind — it’s not about seeing the Yankees lose.

Pedro Martinez’s Transition from Baseball to Gardening

Pedro Martinez, a Hall of Famer, is perhaps better known for his fiery temper on the mound, including a notable moment when he threw Yankees coach Don Zimmer to the ground. Now, however, he tends vibrant gardens filled with flowers and vegetables at three homes: in Miami, Georgia, and the Dominican Republic.

“I have three babies,” Martinez, now 53, shared when talking about his beloved gardens. “I try to take care of them and keep them beautiful.” He likens his care for the gardens to that of a father doting on a daughter, saying it brings him relaxation. “It’s like doing her hair or matching her clothes. That’s my space.”

This softer side of Martinez comes to light after he retired from Major League Baseball in 2011 and transitioned to a role as a studio analyst for TNT Sports. The days of heated exchanges and fan heckling are now behind him.

These days, he finds joy in growing roses, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and even raising chickens and geese.

“Believe it or not,” Martinez reflected, “after playing in the big leagues for 18 years, tending to the garden before every game was my way to relax.” He felt a strange fulfillment in cleaning flowers and trimming rose branches. “It’s a connection that might surprise people who remember me playing baseball.”

His love for gardening traces back to his childhood in Manoguayabo, a village near Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His mother had a passion for gardening, which helped keep him focused. “I became this energetic guy wanting to follow everyone,” he remembered. “When I got angry, my mom would steer me toward plants and scissors.”

The act of gardening has become a form of therapy for him, almost like yoga.

Martinez, a World Series champion, expressed surprise at how much he enjoys sharing insights now that he is a broadcaster. He sees this role as an opportunity to “convey my experiences” and “express myself.” He reflects on a past scuffle with Zimmer, acknowledging regret and advising athletes to be more empathetic: “Sometimes, we don’t know the person behind the uniform.”

Having played for the Mets between 2005 and 2008, he once envisioned his Greenwich, Connecticut home as a year-round retreat, filled with a lush garden. However, he left that dream behind upon moving away from New York.

“I never thought I’d return to New York for many reasons,” Martinez admitted, though he now receives warmth from fans when he visits. “I assumed they hated me, but it was quite the opposite. I found love in New York after retiring. Of course, when I was impacting the Yankees negatively, they weren’t fans.”

Even after witnessing the Blue Jays eliminate the Yankees from the postseason recently, Martinez shared a grin, largely because first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is his godson. He reminisced about playing alongside Guerrero Sr. during his time with the Montreal Expos.