Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez has gained permission to wear number 18 for the upcoming season to honor his close friend, the late Oscar Taveras, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

According to Goold, Martinez approached the team with the idea and GM John Mozeliak informed Martinez’s representatives Monday that the club had approved the idea. It’s possible that Martinez could decide to wear the number for the rest of his career, although that could depend on what the Cardinals do to honor Taveras in the future.

Mozeliak told Goold that, “We’ll let him honor his friend.” Martinez has been pitching very well in the Dominican League this winter and Mozeliak added that the young pitcher seems to be “pitching with a purpose.”

Taveras died in an automobile accident in his native Dominican Republic just after the end of the Cardinals’ season. Martinez and Taveras grew up near each other and also spent years together in the club’s farm system.

Read Goold’s full article on STLToday.com.

 

Feature image used under Creative Commons from Keith Allison. Image cropped. Creative Commons License.