Starling Marte made a costly defensive error in the New York Mets’ 11-7 loss to the Kansas City Royals on April 13, one that completely changed the outlook of that game. A moment like that could have cause him to go into a slump, but it has had a reverse effect. Marte has been on a tear ever since, and came through in the biggest moment of Saturday’s 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The game was tied at 2-2 going into the top of the sixth inning. Marte came to the plate with runners of first and second, facing Ryan Brasier with one out. The 35-year-old attacked a second-pitch slider near the middle of the zone and got all of it, driving it over the wall in center field. That go-ahead three-run home run would give the Mets a 5-2 lead, an advantage they would never give up.
“I know that I was facing a real good pitcher in that moment and he has good pitches and you just see one in the zone and just take that type of approach with it,” Marte said through an interpreter.
Starling Marte. Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The two-time All-Star is in the midst of a good run at the plate, one that resembles his level of performances in 2022. Over his last 29 plate appearances, Marte is slashing .286/.310/.571 (.882 OPS) with two home runs, eight RBIS, and two stolen bases. During that period, he has not only recorded a hit in five of those six games, but he has three multi-hit games in that stretch.
Marte’s absence in the Mets lineup for a large portion of the 2023 season left a substantial hole. While it wasn’t the only problem, not having him in healthy played a big role in a down season for the group as a whole. Marte appears to have fully recovered from a groin injury that caused him to miss so much time in 2023. Having him in the two-hole completely changes things for the Mets’ offense.
Marte posted a career-low slugging percentage of .324 in 2023. His xSLG, average exit velocity, and chase rate all checked in below the league’s 35th percentile. All that culminating in an OPS of only .625 across 315 at-bats in arguably the worst season of his career. Through only 85 at-bats in 2024, all these numbers have sky-rocketed, owning a chase rate in the 71st percentile and xSLG and xBA figures in the 84th and 92nd percentiles, respectively. It’s early, but Marte has reverted back to the player he was before the woeful 2023 season.
