Marlins hitting coach Tino Martinez resigns, admits to grabbing jersey of Suns' Derek Dietrich, according to AP

The Jacksonville Suns' return to the Baseball Grounds on Sunday night to start a 10-game homestand became a secondary issue after news earlier in the day about an incident between Miami Marlins hitting coach Tino Martinez and current Suns infielder Derek Dietrich.

A story by the Miami Herald on Sunday detailed accounts of physical and verbal abuse by Martinez toward Dietrich and other players. Once the news became public, Martinez submitted his resignation to Marlins officials.

"It has been building for a few days," Martinez said in an Associated Press story. "I didn't know this was going to come out publicly. When this came out, I thought it was the right thing to do. … I want to apologize to the Marlins organization for my behavior. I have made some comments to certain players at certain times that I thought was more constructive criticism. Obviously, they didn't feel that way, and it kind of backfired on me."

Dietrich was with the Marlins in spring training but was assigned to Jacksonville to start the season. After a hot start, he was promoted to Miami on May 8. Last Tuesday, he was returned to Jacksonville after batting .214 in 57 games with the Marlins.

Martinez said he once touched the player in anger, grabbing Dietrich by the jersey in the batting cage, according to the AP. The incident with Dietrich took place within days of his promotion to the Marlins, but the news just surfaced. The Herald reported that, according to sources who witnessed Martinez's profanity-laced eruptions, other players berated by Martinez include current Marlins and former Suns outfielder Justin Ruggiano, along with a pair of infielders currently playing for Triple-A New Orleans, Chris Valaika and Matt Downs.

Efforts to talk to Dietrich were unsuccessful. Suns manager Andy Barkett closed the clubhouse to the media Sunday, the first time in eight years that the clubhouse has been off limits to the media.

The Herald reported that, according to two sources, Dietrich's agent, David Meter, contacted team officials about the incident.

"I just think it's a sensitive time right now, so I chose to close the clubhouse so that our players don't have to answer any questions about it, at least today," Barkett said. "It's a sensitive issue. There are some allegations involved; I'm not sure of the ramifications of those after the fact. Derek is a young man trying to make it back to the big leagues. He's got a lot on his mind day in and day out, apart from this. To have this type of thing as a distraction for him is something I don't want to happen, at least today. Let it calm down and play itself out."

Barkett said his immediate concern was helping Dietrich get through the situation.

"It wasn't out before this, but this has been brewing for a couple days," Barkett said. "I think Derek is doing OK. He might be a relieved a little bit that Tino did resign, but I don't know. I can't comment for him. I just want to help him get through this game and focus on what he needs to do here."

Barkett is looking to shift the attention to Miami.

"For me, this is a Marlins issue. The major-league hitting coach has nothing to do with us," Barkett said. "One of our players is involved, but his involvement in this doesn't need to be played out in the media. This is an in-house issue and needs to be dealt with in-house. We all work for the Marlins and trust that their PR people will issue the appropriate statements that need to be made."

The Marlins rank last in the majors in runs, homers, batting and slugging. The 45-year-old Martinez said he became frustrated as players struggled.

"I just thought with some young players you needed to be a little firmer and try to get them on the right track," said Martinez, who was in his first year as hitting coach. "I probably used some four-letter words. I thought I was doing the right thing. Obviously, I wasn't."

Martinez batted .271 with 339 homers in his major-league career. He was a four-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees.

Marlins minor-league field coordinator John Pierson is the interim hitting coach.

The Associated Press contributed information to this report.