Veteran broadcaster Martinez soaks up information

With trusty black notebook and pen in hand, Buck Martinez covers a wide expanse at the Toronto Blue Jays' player development complex during spring training in Dunedin, Fla.

With trusty black notebook and pen in hand, Buck Martinez covers a wide expanse at the Toronto Blue Jays’ player development complex during spring training in Dunedin, Fla.

Sometimes the veteran broadcaster watches batting practice from the visiting dugout bench. An up-close perch from behind the bullpen fence is ideal for observing pitchers.

Martinez will also walk the paths of the sprawling facility to visit practice fields and gather tidbits of information. Once he secures a nugget, he scribbles a few lines for future use.

“I find if that I write them down, I’ve got a tendency to remember them,” he said, raising his notebook in the air. “I’ve got stacks of these things.”

Martinez, now 75, enters the team locker-room with the slow stride of a knowing veteran.

He had a 17-year playing career in the big leagues, largely as a backup catcher. The Redding, Calif., native spent his last six seasons with the Blue Jays and managed the team for 215 games in 2001 and ’02.

At camp, he’ll check in with major- and minor-leaguers alike as players share stories and update him with recent developments. Pitching, catching and deep-dive baseball chatter are the norm.

“I’m around the best players in the world and it keeps my mind going,” he said. “I feel like I’m young. I don’t feel my age.”