Observations on Starling Marte after watching two games in the Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Starling Marte was all smiles all weekend long, as he ran, hit and manned right field like a healthy player, and met the Mets’ new leadership team.

I watched Marte play in an intense playoff atmosphere on Saturday and Sunday for Leones del Escogido, and spoke to him briefly in the dugout before Saturday’s game. The outfielder, who saw his 2023 season spoiled by a halting recovery from groin surgery, says that he feels good now.

He conveyed the same to new president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza, who were in the country for Saturday’s graduation ceremony at the team’s Dominican Academy, and Monday’s International Signing Day.

Mendoza, who had never before met Marte, introduced himself on the field on Saturday, then watched the game from Escogido general manager (and former Mets skipper and current Yankees’ third base coach) Luis Rojas’ suite along with Mets vice president Eduardo Brizuela. On Sunday, Stearns joined the group to speak with Marte and take in the game.

Marte recorded five hits in the two games, and is now batting .367 with an .872 OPS in eight games. Perhaps more importantly, he was moving well on the bases and in the field.

On Sunday, Marte hustled down the line and reached first on an error (he then shook his head, annoyed with himself after making softer contact than he would have liked). He stole second base and scored.

Marte did bobble one ball in the right field corner, allowing a runner to take an extra base – but overall, he moved more naturally at his position than last season, when he failed to reach numerous fly balls that would have been routine for him early in his career.

It is significant that the question of Marte’s health has apparently been answered before spring training. However, 30 at-bats in winter ball is not enough of a sample to determine how he will fare against MLB pitching on a consistent basis at 35 years old.

It’s worth noting that Marte has been facing 90-plus mph fastballs and several pitchers who featured plus breaking balls. For context on the quality of pitching in the league, Jeurys Familia is Escogido’s closer – no longer quite good enough to serve in that role in MLB, but still likely capable of getting outs in AAA or possibly the big leagues.

One evaluator in attendance said that Marte’s bat looked a bit slow still, but similar to how any veteran player would appear early in spring training. In other words, we are a ways from being able to project his offensive output over the course of a 162-game season. It’s too early to declare him a star player again, but initial signs are solid.

Marte’s health is a significant contrast to one year ago, when he had to withdraw from the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team amid concerns that his recovery from the surgery was not going well.

Those fears were proven correct during the season. This year, he will arrive at spring training surrounded by far more optimism.