Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. is leading the “Edgar Martinez for the Hall of Fame” campaign.
The Rays outfielder sent a funny tweet in response to Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Topkin’s Hall of Fame ballot. Topkin posted his Hall of Fame ballot on Tuesday, a day ahead of Wednesday’s impending announcement of the 2018 Hall of Fame class.
On his ballot, Topkin voted for guys like Fred McGriff and Billy Wagner, but not Martinez:
Okay, here it is, my Hall of Fame ballot. And a link to my column on some of the voting issues. https://t.co/AN9zRN83f5 Guessing a few people will have some opinions. pic.twitter.com/MXz8z0aUVC
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) January 23, 2018
Souza, who is a Washington native, sent this funny tweet in response in which he put Topkin on “probation” from interviews over the Martinez omission.
Dear @TBTimes_Rays,
You are hereby on probation from interviews until my childhood hero, Edgar Martinez is rightfully voted in to the Hall Of Fame. This may seem unprofessional and unfair, but I say to you “My oh My”.Yours Truly,
Longtime Mariner Fan— Steven Souza Jr. (@SouzaJr) January 23, 2018
Souza continued to campaign for Martinez by sharing a highlight video of the former Seattle Mariners DH via Twitter:
All my Seattle folk know why he belongs! #EdgarHOF
1995 ALDS Gm5: Griffey scores the game-winning run https://t.co/ANjyKaaAd5 via @YouTube
— Steven Souza Jr. (@SouzaJr) January 23, 2018
Martinez is projected to fall just short of the required threshold to make the Hall of Fame. If he doesn’t make it this year, he seems like he is closing in on induction. Chipper Jones, Vlad Guerrero, Jim Thome and Trevor Hoffman are expected to make it.
