LOS ANGELES–Though French was Russell Martin's first language and Montreal his boyhood home, his accent is pure California.

Barely a year removed from his first game in the major leagues, Martin has established himself in every way as a Los Angeles Dodger. He's the team's everyday catcher and perhaps its most reliable bat.

Right now he's hitting .308 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs.

The 24-year-old agrees his rise has been meteoric. Asked to explain it, he winces and stares up from his locker.

"It's a game of adjustments. How can I say this? I don't want to sound egotistical when I say this, but I don't really have any, like, weaknesses."

In a town as accustomed to outsized egos as L.A., that kind of statement fits right in. But it's not showing off if it's the truth.

"I hear he's got it all," Jays manager and former catcher John Gibbons said of the young backstop before considering for a moment. "Say, how come we didn't get him? He is Canadian, right?"

Martin is a catcher in the Ivan Rodriguez mold – undersized, tightly-muscled and athletic. Pitchers praise his game calling, he hits for average and power, throws well and runs with deceptive speed.

The most impressive statistic associated with Martin is the effect he seems to have on his teammates. Since his debut, the Dodgers are 104-67 with him in the lineup and 18-33 without him.

How does he explain that one?

"I think I just picked good days to take off," Martin shrugged; there's still some Canadian modesty left in him.

Martin was born in Toronto, but his parents moved before he was out of diapers. He moved around a lot, even spending two years in Paris as a grade-schooler. After his parents' divorce, he ended up with his musician father in Montreal. Once there, he attended Polyvalente Edouard-Montpetit High School, the same institution attended by pitcher Eric Gagné.

His dad's still there. His mother lives in Hull. Last year, Martin bought a condo in Montreal's old town.

"My first home. That was a big step for me," Martin said. "I wish I could spend a summer back there. I always get the cold weather."

After high school, he took a junior college scholarship in Florida. In 2002, the Dodgers drafted him in the 17th round. Though he was a third baseman, L.A. presciently predicted that Martin might have the proper make-up for a catcher.

Not yet finished his first year in rookie ball, he made the switch. His blend of athleticism and intelligence moved him quickly through the Dodgers' minor league organization. In the spring of 2006, the starter's job came down to a competition between Martin and another youngster, Dioner Navarro. Navarro won the job, but once he was injured Martin assumed the starter's spot. Navarro moved on to Tampa Bay. Martin got to play in Dodgers' first round playoff loss to the New York Mets.

Since his May, 2006 debut, Martin has established himself as an indispensable Dodger, famed for his tough edge. Teammate Luis Gonzalez has praised Martin's "hockey mentality."

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"I played hockey until I was 15," Martin said of the analogy. "But I think every time they get a Canadian player and he's hard-nosed, they call that a hockey mentality. I guess it could be that. That's just a way to play, so that you have no regrets."

For now, he is content to learn on a team stacked with veteran talent.

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