D-backs’ Ketel Marte ranked by ESPN as 8th-most entertaining MLB player

The Arizona Diamondbacks may not have been a particularly exciting team to watch over the past month, but they still boast one of the most exciting players in baseball.

ESPN put together a ranking of the most entertaining players in the MLB.

Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte placed eighth.

That’s as much to do with his defensive prowess as offensive.

ESPN’s Sam Miller wrote:

It’s fun watching a good defensive shortstop play the position — see the relatively high placement of Orlando Arcia and Jose Iglesias on this list — but it can be even more fun watching a good defensive shortstop playing second base, when he’s obviously overqualified for it. In this era of infield shifts — where so much defense happens right up the middle — Marte is the best there is around the bag, fielding knockdown liners, starting close-range double-play turns, pulling out hocus pocus.

That shortstop’s arm at second base also allows him to play center field when needed, which may be more so now that Starling Marte — who was ranked No. 69 on Miller’s list — was traded to the Miami Marlins.

Unfortunately for those who enjoy watching fun baseball players play baseball, Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with left wrist inflammation.

That means the league won’t get to see his glove — or his bat — for the time being.

He’s also an extraordinarily strong hitter — only five batters hit a ball harder than he has this year — though the season has been a letdown from his 2019 MVP bid, and he was just sidelined with wrist inflammation.

At the top of the list was San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who the D-backs know all too well how exciting of a player his is.

Following Tatis was Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto at No. 2 and Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert at No. 3.

Former Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt ranked No. 100.

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