Former Major League Baseball pro Tino Martinez implored students to stay in school, stay on course and focus on success.

“These are the times of your life; enjoy, have fun,” but stay on track, Martinez said Wednesday night when he spoke to a full house in Ryan Concert Hall, T. Furth Center for Performing Arts. “With an education from here you have an opportunity to do big things in your life.” Student-athletes should have a plan just in case they don’t make it in the professional world of sports, he said.

The four-time World Series champ who played in five series and is a friend of Trine trustees Sheri and Ralph Trine, spoke briefly before taking questions from the audience for more than an hour. Today, Martinez will deliver the ball for the Thunder home opener against Manchester. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Martinez was drafted right out of high school but his family encouraged him to go to college and then play in the big leagues. He was again drafted after his third year of college and went on to play from 1990 through 2005 with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"My mom said 'you can sign but you better get your degree,' " he said. So, in 2011 he went back and completed his degree. Plus, he noted, when he speaks with youth he mentions the value of an education so he thought it would be good to complete his degree. “My mom was happy.”

Many in attendance posed questions and here’s a sampling:

n  What is your accountability if you saw a teammate go astray?

“You all should be accountable for each other all of the time … watch out for each other.”

n  What makes Derek Jeter, a retired Yankees star, the great leader he is?

“He was there to win, he came out and played hard every day … He was happy to be there, his focus was to win the World Series … the main focus was to win every single day.”

n  Was it difficult to transition from team to team?

“When the Mariners played the Yankees in the playoff, I never thought I would get traded. It was a good year, I got my career going.” Then manager Lou Piniella, a former MLB player and friend of Martinez, said “he had to get rid of some of us and asked where I wanted to go,” Martinez said. Options included the Yankees, Padres and Cubs and Martinez told him “I would love to go to New York. I was fortunate that I was able to tell Lou where I wanted to go and he could do it.” It was also easier to transfer during the off season and in the end “you get used to it,” he said of playing for different teams.

n  His best teammate and why?

Derek Jeter, who played shortstop for 20 seasons with the Yankees and is a five-time World Series champion. "He played his best and played his worst and his attitude never changed."

n  How did he deal with social media?

“I didn’t have to deal with all of that … it’s a great way to relate to fans” when athletes stick to their sport and don’t get involved in talking about other players and topics.

n  What skills are needed be successful with the Yankees?

Team owner George Steinbrenner said play hard, dress well, pay attention to details and make good decisions on and off the field … “Pay attention, make good decisions on and off the field.”

n  As a former player, what do you tell players?

“I tell players when they struggle that I have been there … just to let them know I know what they’re feeling … to try to keep their mind right.”

n  What’s your favorite part of being a professional athlete, besides the sport?

“Travel is always first class … there are so many great things but then again you are a role model.”

n  Who were your childhood heroes?

“My parents were good role models … the Cincinnati Reds trained in Tampa where I was when I was a kid … Pete Rose, Johnny Bench.”

n  Did you ever get a breakthrough moment mentally and what led to it?

“Fighting through the bad moments … until you really believe you can do something, it’s hard to get that breakthrough moment … be positive, be strong.”

n  What was your biggest motivation to be successful?

“Money was not the motivator. I loved playing baseball and I wanted to make it to the big leagues … you have to be a good teammate and player.’’

n  How did you react to your first big paycheck, did you spend it or keep it?

“I was like ‘wow, to play baseball?’ … I put it in the bank, you have to go on playing … manage it correctly and you know you can help your family.”

n  When it’s a long season, what mental things did you tell yourself if it’s a drag?

“Get some rest … eat the best food you can.”

n  Your advice for college athletes who want to go pro?

“You’re in great shape to be here at Trine … now you have the ability to go out and reach your goals … you have a degree to fall back on … I tell parents to have their kids go to college and then go from there … you can graduate and you can try out then.”

n  If you didn’t play pro ball, what would you have done?

Be a college baseball coach … “I like college ball … being an athletic director would be a great job as well.”

After he answered questions, Martinez threw a dozen signed baseballs to the crowd, many of whom cheered “Tino, Tino” as they held out their hands. A member of Trine’s football team caught a ball and handed it to Luke Faramelli, 7, who was thrilled to get the ball.

Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., presented Martinez with a crystal plate in appreciation for his time.

A line formed of those who wished to be photographed with the MLB star and get his autograph. Martinez did not leave the concert hall until he met with each person in line.

Thank you Tino Martinez for showing what it takes to be a great professional player.

Former Major League Baseball pro Tino Martinez implored students to stay in school, stay on course and focus on success.

“These are the times of your life; enjoy, have fun,” but stay on track, Martinez said Wednesday night when he spoke to a full house in Ryan Concert Hall, T. Furth Center for Performing Arts. “With an education from here you have an opportunity to do big things in your life.” Student-athletes should have a plan just in case they don’t make it in the professional world of sports, he said.

The four-time World Series champ who played in five series and is a friend of Trine trustees Sheri and Ralph Trine, spoke briefly before taking questions from the audience for more than an hour. Today, Martinez will deliver the ball for the Thunder home opener against Manchester. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Martinez was drafted right out of high school but his family encouraged him to go to college and then play in the big leagues. He was again drafted after his third year of college and went on to play from 1990 through 2005 with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"My mom said 'you can sign but you better get your degree,' " he said. So, in 2011 he went back and completed his degree. Plus, he noted, when he speaks with youth he mentions the value of an education so he thought it would be good to complete his degree. “My mom was happy.”

Many in attendance posed questions and here’s a sampling:

n  What is your accountability if you saw a teammate go astray?

“You all should be accountable for each other all of the time … watch out for each other.”

n  What makes Derek Jeter, a retired Yankees star, the great leader he is?

“He was there to win, he came out and played hard every day … He was happy to be there, his focus was to win the World Series … the main focus was to win every single day.”

n  Was it difficult to transition from team to team?

“When the Mariners played the Yankees in the playoff, I never thought I would get traded. It was a good year, I got my career going.” Then manager Lou Piniella, a former MLB player and friend of Martinez, said “he had to get rid of some of us and asked where I wanted to go,” Martinez said. Options included the Yankees, Padres and Cubs and Martinez told him “I would love to go to New York. I was fortunate that I was able to tell Lou where I wanted to go and he could do it.” It was also easier to transfer during the off season and in the end “you get used to it,” he said of playing for different teams.

n  His best teammate and why?

Derek Jeter, who played shortstop for 20 seasons with the Yankees and is a five-time World Series champion. "He played his best and played his worst and his attitude never changed."

n  How did he deal with social media?

“I didn’t have to deal with all of that … it’s a great way to relate to fans” when athletes stick to their sport and don’t get involved in talking about other players and topics.

n  What skills are needed be successful with the Yankees?

Team owner George Steinbrenner said play hard, dress well, pay attention to details and make good decisions on and off the field … “Pay attention, make good decisions on and off the field.”

n  As a former player, what do you tell players?

“I tell players when they struggle that I have been there … just to let them know I know what they’re feeling … to try to keep their mind right.”

n  What’s your favorite part of being a professional athlete, besides the sport?

“Travel is always first class … there are so many great things but then again you are a role model.”

n  Who were your childhood heroes?

“My parents were good role models … the Cincinnati Reds trained in Tampa where I was when I was a kid … Pete Rose, Johnny Bench.”

n  Did you ever get a breakthrough moment mentally and what led to it?

“Fighting through the bad moments … until you really believe you can do something, it’s hard to get that breakthrough moment … be positive, be strong.”

n  What was your biggest motivation to be successful?

“Money was not the motivator. I loved playing baseball and I wanted to make it to the big leagues … you have to be a good teammate and player.’’

n  How did you react to your first big paycheck, did you spend it or keep it?

“I was like ‘wow, to play baseball?’ … I put it in the bank, you have to go on playing … manage it correctly and you know you can help your family.”

n  When it’s a long season, what mental things did you tell yourself if it’s a drag?

“Get some rest … eat the best food you can.”

n  Your advice for college athletes who want to go pro?

“You’re in great shape to be here at Trine … now you have the ability to go out and reach your goals … you have a degree to fall back on … I tell parents to have their kids go to college and then go from there … you can graduate and you can try out then.”

n  If you didn’t play pro ball, what would you have done?

Be a college baseball coach … “I like college ball … being an athletic director would be a great job as well.”

After he answered questions, Martinez threw a dozen signed baseballs to the crowd, many of whom cheered “Tino, Tino” as they held out their hands. A member of Trine’s football team caught a ball and handed it to Luke Faramelli, 7, who was thrilled to get the ball.

Trine president Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., presented Martinez with a crystal plate in appreciation for his time.

A line formed of those who wished to be photographed with the MLB star and get his autograph. Martinez did not leave the concert hall until he met with each person in line.

Thank you Tino Martinez for showing what it takes to be a great professional player.