Who is Rudy Martin Jr.? He’s a 30-year-old Blue Jays rookie who never gave up - Toronto Star

Martin, five-foot-five and 155 pounds, made his first MLB start Saturday with loads of family on hand at the Rogers Centre.

Blue Jay Rudy Martin Jr. made his first MLB start at age 30 on Saturday at the Rogers Centre.

Twelve years before the mast of minor-league baseball.

And still Rudy Martin Jr. can say he’s living the dream.

At age 30, he finally made his debut in the majors with the Blue Jays on Friday evening, pinch-running for George Springer in the bottom of the ninth. That got him a tag on the Baseball Reference website.

But on Saturday afternoon, Martin made his more meaningful debut, starting in left field against the Baltimore Orioles, hitting ninth and among the handshakers in on the 7-3 final celebration. With mom and dad, aunt, cousins, girlfriend and her mom in the stands at the Rogers Centre.

“A lot more that wished they were here.”