New York Mets star outfielder Starling Marte has been training for weeks to get healthy after his groin surgery in the offseason.
He recently appeared in his first game and is now getting valuable at-bats to get ready for the season.
That progress was halted on Sunday, when he left his spring training game after being hit in the helmet by a 93-mph fastball.
Fortunately for him and the Mets, he dodged any major injuries as concussion tests came back negative.
Just a couple of days after the unfortunate incident, Marte is back in play.
He is not in the lineup for Tuesday’s contest, but he is expected to come off the bench.
“Starling Marte is back to full baseball activities today, two days after being hit in the helmet by a fastball. He’s planning to come off the bench for the Mets’ Grapefruit League game against the Nationals,” Mets insider Anthony DiComo tweeted.
📸 Starling Marte is back to full baseball activities today, two days after being hit in the helmet by a fastball. He's planning to come off the bench for the Mets' Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. pic.twitter.com/Bvz3TU34Wa
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 14, 2023
Marte is one of the most important hitters in the Mets’ lineup.
He can do it all on a baseball field: he can hit for average, as his .292 mark suggests; he has power, he has speed to burn, and he is a competent fielder in the corners who can play in center in a pinch.
Last season, he overcame injuries to score 76 runs, hit 16 homers, drive in 63 runs, steal 18 bases and finish with a .815 OPS.
If the Mets are going to embark on a deep playoff run, then Marte surely will be all over it.
Despite his age (34), he continues to show that he is a comfortably above-average outfielder in MLB.
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