New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte is no stranger to injuries.
The last time he played something close to 150 games in a season was in 2019, when he appeared in 132 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He was limited to 118 games in 2022 and 86 last year with leg and groin ailments that needed surgery.
2023 was particularly rough for him, as he didn’t look like himself.
He posted a .625 OPS in the 86 games, probably limited by his injury.
However, all reports indicate that he is fully healthy at the moment, and that could mean a rebound season is coming.
He played some winter ball and now, finally, he is ready to take the field for the Mets again.
“Starling Marte is in the Mets’ Grapefruit League game today, leading off. It will be Marte’s first stateside game action since Aug. 2023. (He appeared in 11 postseason Dominican winter ball games earlier this year),” Mets insider Anthony DiComo tweeted.
Starling Marte is in the Mets’ Grapefruit League game today, leading off. It will be Marte’s first stateside game action since Aug. 2023. (He appeared in 11 postseason Dominican winter ball games earlier this year).
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) February 28, 2024
Marte is a dynamic player, and those tend to get hurt a lot.
If healthy, he gives New York a legit 15-home run, 30-stolen base threat with quality defense in the outfield corners and the ability to play center in a pinch.
That’s a very nice player to have.
If Marte can return to form and everyone performs like they know how to, there is a path for this team to sneak into the postseason.
Of course, we are talking about best-case scenarios: 2025 remains the Mets’ true and most accurate goal.
Still, they can make some noise in 2024, and to do that, they will need a healthy version of Marte.
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