Russell Martin, who has struggled immensely in the early going, took an extra round of batting practice Tuesday afternoon to work on hitting curveballs, Sportsnet reports.

Martin, who has struggled immensely in the early going, took an extra round of batting practice Tuesday afternoon to work on hitting curveballs, Sportsnet reports.

Analysis:

Now in his 11th season, the veteran is hitting .083 (2-for-24) with 11 strikeouts through the team's first eight games. Of course it's early in the season, but Martin's struggles at the plate can be traced back to the second half of last season when he hit just .224 after the All-Star break. Hitting in a potent Jays' lineup, Martin is still a valuable asset at a weak position, but owners may want to begin researching a backup plan in case the 33-year-old doesn't show signs of improving soon.