D-backs’ Ketel Marte, Eduardo Escobar on 1st 2019 MLB All-Star update

A duo of Arizona Diamondbacks has garnered national attention for their play 67 games into the season.

Third baseman Eduardo Escobar and second baseman/outfielder Ketel Marte appeared in the first update of 2019 MLB All-Star balloting results, announced Tuesday. Marte is third among all second baseman while Escobar is seventh at his position.

For those in the Valley, the selections come with little surprise as the two have been crucial to the team’s success this season.

Entering play Tuesday, Escobar led D-backs batters in nearly all categories, pacing the team in hits (78), runs scored (44), RBI (54) and home runs (17). Among NL third basemen, he’s tied for first in home runs with Colorado’s Nolan Arenado and third in OPS (.950) behind Arenado and Washington’s Anthony Rendon. He also is second only to Arenado in hits and RBI, and leads the league in triples with five. 

He added to his totals Monday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, recording a four-hit night that included two two-run home runs. Escobar is hitting .299 on the season.

Marte, meanwhile, ranks first among NL second basemen in hits (73) and RBI (46), tied for first in triples (3), second in runs (41), average (.274), slugging (.526) and OPS (.852), third in doubles (13) and home runs (16) and fourth in on-base percentage (.325).

In voting, Marte (327,268) trails Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies (424,467) and Milwaukee’s Mike Moustakas (377,983).

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