Ketel Marte’s home run in D-backs’ sweep of Toronto sets new career high

Jun 10, 2019, 8:38 AM

Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks prepares for his at bat in the first inning of the MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field on May 10, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

BY MATT LAYMAN

Arizona Sports

On June 9, in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 66th game of 162 to be played in the season, infielder Ketel Marte already had a new career high in home runs.

His dinger against Toronto Blue Jays starter Clayton Richard in the third inning on Sunday was Marte’s 15th big fly of the season, exceeding his total of 14 that he hit last year.

It’s somewhat of a small sample size to work with, because Marte is on pace to play more than 100 games this year for only the third time in his career. But in 249 games (968 plate appearances) from 2015 to 2017, the switch hitter had only eight home runs. Now, he’s got almost twice that in far fewer games.

It’s easy to see 2019 becoming a career year for the 25-year-old, who not only has a career high in home runs already but also can set new personal bests in slugging percentage, OPS, total bases, hits and runs if he keeps pace.

His numbers are even more impressive when singling out his at bats from the right-handed batters box, where he’s hitting .305 with nine home runs, 21 RBI and a .993 OPS in exactly 100 plate appearances this season. From the left side, he’s hitting .250 with six home runs and 24 RBI.

The D-backs secured Marte on a five-year, $24 million deal before last season, projecting high performance from a player who months prior hit a clutch triple in the NL Wild Card game, which Arizona won.

A similar development is occurring for fellow Diamondback Eduardo Escobar. The 30-year-old veteran’s career high in home runs is 23, which he set last year between the Twins and D-backs. This year, Escobar has already 15 in 64 games. With those numbers, Escobar would be on pace to play 157 games with 36 home runs, both career highs.

Follow @mattjlayman

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Clayton Richard on the mound in the third inning of their baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Clayton Richard reacts on the mound in the third inning of their baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning of their baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, right, celebrates his solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning of their baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte reacts in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning of their baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly hits a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning of their baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Clayton Richard reacts on the mound with catcher Danny Jansen in the third inning of their baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Toronto on Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of their baseball game in Toronto Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Clayton Richard throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of their baseball game in Toronto Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning of their baseball game in Toronto Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is met at the dugout by teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.