Ketel Marte, Zack Greinke make ESPN’s inaugural 2019 All-MLB Teams
Nov 21, 2019, 11:09 AM | Updated: 6:51 pm
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)
(Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)
PHOENIX – Arizona Diamondbacks OF/2B Ketel Marte and former ace Zack Greinke were selected to ESPN’s All-MLB third team and second team, respectively.
The inaugural ESPN poll featured 68 media members voting for first-, second- and third-team players across 10 positions. It did not mention who participated in the voting.
In cases like Marte, who spent time in center field and the infield during the 2019 campaign, each player was assigned a specific position to cut down on cross-positional voting.
Marte’s position was determined to be outfield, where he spent 96 of his 144 games.
The versatile 26-year-old Marte had a breakout year in 2019, finishing fourth in the MVP voting after slashing .329 with 32 home runs, 92 RBIs and accumulating 6.9 wins above replacement – ranking him 10th in MLB according to Baseball Reference. He also made his first all-star team.
First-team at the outfield position featured AL MVP Mike Trout, NL MVP Cody Bellinger and NL MVP runner-up Christian Yelich.
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The second team was made up of the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr., Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox and George Springer from the 2019 American League Champion Houston Astros.
It was mentioned Marte received more second-team votes than Springer but fell behind in total votes.
Joining Marte on the third team was Bryce Harper of the Phillies and the Nationals’ Juan Soto.
Harper hit 35 home runs and 114 RBIs with a batting average of .260 in the first year of a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, while the 20-year-old Soto smacked 34 home runs with 110 RBIs and a .282 batting average in 150 games.
Meanwhile, Zack Greinke was picked for the second All-MLB Team. He posted a 2.93 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across 208.2 innings with 18 wins and five losses during his time pitching for the Diamondbacks and Astros in his age 35 season.
AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and co-ace Gerrit Cole of the Houston Astros, the Nationals’ 1-2 punch of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, along with NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets finished on the first team.
Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals, Pittsburgh pitcher Charlie Morton and Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Dodgers joined Greinke on the second team.
Former Diamondback Patrick Corbin was selected to the third All-MLB Team in his first year with the Washington Nationals.
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