Is Ketel Marte the Best Second Baseman in the National League?
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Early Verdict
Additionally, Marte's 10 home runs are on par with Nolan Gorman of the Cardinals, leading all second basemen, with Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien close behind at nine each. His 13 doubles also rank him second, tied with four other second basemen.
His .475 slugging percentage is second only to Westburg's .508.
On the defensive side, Marte has excelled, with his eight Defensive Runs Saved tying him for third among second basemen, a category led by AL's Marcus Semien. His five Outs Above Average also ties him for third. Despite the Diamondbacks' offensive challenges, Marte's exceptional performance should not be overlooked.
With the 2024 All-Star roster voting approaching, justice would see Ketel Marte starting for the National League if merit prevails.
This post by Renee Dechert appeared first on Just Baseball.
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D-Backs Struggle, Marte Still Shines
2024 hasn't unfolded as the Arizona Diamondbacks envisioned.
Following a World Series appearance, General Manager Mike Hazen aimed to address the team's shortcomings in the offseason. Despite these efforts, setbacks primarily from injuries and Corbin Carroll's sophomore slump have hindered their success.
Currently, with a 25-32 record, the Diamondbacks' performance is not disastrous, yet it falls short of expectations.
Amid these challenges, second baseman Ketel Marte remains a consistent highlight. After an impressive yet underrated 2023 season, Marte continues to excel in both offense and defense this year.
This post by Renee Dechert appeared first on Just Baseball.
Early Returns
At 30 years old, the switch-hitting Ketel Marte has garnered 1.8 fWAR so far. His current stats include a .265 batting average, a .319 on-base percentage, and a .473 slugging percentage, resulting in a wRC+ of 121, where 100 represents the league average.
With 10 home runs already (compared to 25 last year) and 13 doubles (he hit 26 in 2023), it’s evident that Marte is poised to match or even exceed his previous year's performance.
Numbers Continued
The streak concluded at 21 games during the D-backs' matchup against the Marlins on May 24, yet it highlights Marte's consistent performance this season.
When evaluating Marte alongside his teammates, he and Christian Walker stand out as the team's top performers. Walker currently leads in fWAR and has hit just one more home run than Marte.
Defensively, Marte has impressively racked up eight Defensive Runs Saved and five Outs Above Average this season, compared to two DRS and six OAA last year, underscoring his robust defensive abilities.
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Comparing the Numbers
The statistics are convincing.
According to fWAR, Marte's score of 1.8 ties him with Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers and places him just behind Jordan Westburg (2.1) and Marcus Semien (2.0). By this metric, Marte ranks as the top second baseman in the National League.
Early Verdict
Additionally, Marte's 10 home runs are on par with Nolan Gorman of the Cardinals, leading all second basemen, with Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien close behind at nine each. His 13 doubles also rank him second, tied with four other second basemen.
His .475 slugging percentage is second only to Westburg's .508.
On the defensive side, Marte has excelled, with his eight Defensive Runs Saved tying him for third among second basemen, a category led by AL's Marcus Semien. His five Outs Above Average also ties him for third. Despite the Diamondbacks' offensive challenges, Marte's exceptional performance should not be overlooked.
With the 2024 All-Star roster voting approaching, justice would see Ketel Marte starting for the National League if merit prevails.
This post by Renee Dechert appeared first on Just Baseball.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
D-Backs Struggle, Marte Still Shines
2024 hasn't unfolded as the Arizona Diamondbacks envisioned.
Following a World Series appearance, General Manager Mike Hazen aimed to address the team's shortcomings in the offseason. Despite these efforts, setbacks primarily from injuries and Corbin Carroll's sophomore slump have hindered their success.
Currently, with a 25-32 record, the Diamondbacks' performance is not disastrous, yet it falls short of expectations.
Amid these challenges, second baseman Ketel Marte remains a consistent highlight. After an impressive yet underrated 2023 season, Marte continues to excel in both offense and defense this year.
This post by Renee Dechert appeared first on Just Baseball.
