Corona, California, police arrested a 2011 first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays for double murder Friday night.
Brandon Martin, 22, allegedly killed his 64-year-old dad Michael Martin and his dad’s 62-year-old friend Barry Swanson, and shot his uncle Ricky Lee Anderson, who clings to life.
The arrest came after an off-duty Corona officer recognized a truck fitting the description as one owned by Swanson. Martin led police on a chase, absconding through a home, jumping to the ground from the second floor, and running out of luck upon running into the mouth of a police dog.
The murder spree comes a day after authorities released Martin following a mental evaluation. His family sought protection from him earlier in the week.
Martin once passed muster with Tampa Bay Rays evaluators, too.
The franchise selected the shortstop 38th overall as a supplemental pick in 2011. He received an $860,000 signing bonus. Deadspin points out that Mikie Mahtook, the player the Rays selected a few picks earlier, enjoyed a 5-for-5 game against the Orioles on the very night Martin faced double-murder charges.
Despite BaseballAmerica.com once pegging Martin as the best defensive infielder in the team’s system, he never rose above A-level in the minors. He left baseball in 2014 for a “personal matter.”
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