ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Sports Illustrated: Ketel Marte’s great month of June at the plate

Jun 21, 2018, 3:00 PM

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte watches his two-run triple during the first inning of the team's ...

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte watches his two-run triple during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

As the Arizona Diamondbacks have re-emerged in June, it has been the offense leading the charge.

Paul Goldschmidt has rightfully received most of the headlines, but he has been receiving help from an unsung hero.

Ketel Marte really struggled the first two months of the season and had two outside factors, receiving a contract extension late in spring training as well as Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger’s success in Seattle hurt his perception.

Heading into June, Marte was slashing .216/.273/.309 and there weren’t too many positive signs. He was striking out twice as much as he was walking, and the D-backs’ season appeared to be spiraling out of control.

Sports Illustrated’s Michael Beller broke down how Marte was able to turn around. There weren’t any mechanical adjustments in Marte’s stance, but there was a major adjustment in his approach at the plate.

Add up the nine boxes that comprise the strike zone, and you’ll get a 72.8% swing rate for April and May, and an 80.8% swing rate for June. What’s more, Marte is crushing pitches in the zone this month, hitting .429 with a .943 slugging percentage.

A more aggressive approach at the plate has served Marte very well. In this era of baseball that believes in working deep counts in order to drive up pitch counts, this strategy may have harmed Marte’s performance.

In 2017, Marte had a very respectable on-base percentage of .345. Heading into his second full season in the National League, pitchers were attacking Marte getting him into difficult counts. Being more aggressive has allowed Marte to re-emerge at the plate as well as hit for power.

He has balanced eight strikeouts with six walks, and has provided the Diamondbacks another powerful, reliable bat with A.J. Pollock on the DL. The .778 slugging percentage in June ranks fifth in the majors, behind Goldschmidt, Eduardo Escobar, Max Muncy and Eddie Rosario. Who is right behind Marte in slugging for the month? Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna.

As the offense continues to improve, it will remain important that Marte continue his offensive production as long as A.J. Pollock and Steven Souza Jr. remain out with injuries.

Comments

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

Arizona Diamondbacks

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

1 hour ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

3 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

3 hours ago

Chase Field flyover...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks’ Hall ‘battling’ to keep Chase Field roof open for Opening Day

The roof at Chase Field continues to be a hot button topic, especially after an exhibition game was rained out on Monday.

4 hours ago

Merrill Kelly throws a pitch...

Alex Weiner

Meet the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2024 Opening Day roster

The Arizona Diamondbacks finalized their 26-man Opening Day roster on Thursday ahead of their matchup against the Rockies.

5 hours ago

Manager Torey Lovullo speaks with Corbin Carroll...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable: Expectations, predictions for the 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks

What are the expectations for the 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks? Arizona Sports show hosts and editors make their predictions.

7 hours ago

Sports Illustrated: Ketel Marte’s great month of June at the plate