Ketel Marte puts early season struggles behind him with career-high hitting streak

Recently extended Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte didn’t have quite the start to the season that he was expecting.

The switch-hitter said earlier this season via translator that his contract may have been a reason for his slow start because he was trying to do too much in order to live up to his new deal.

“Early in the year, there were some well-documented struggles with Ketel,” D-backs senior vice president and assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Wednesday.

The hit streak is up to 14 games!

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— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) June 1, 2022

But since struggling to begin the season, Marte is currently in the midst of a 14-game hitting streak.

That metric bests his previous career high of 12 games, which he tied in Monday’s 6-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Marte set his new career best with a single in his second at-bat off the bench in Monday’s 8-7 extra-inning victory.

His first inning single on Wednesday — which was only one of three Arizona hits in a 6-0 loss to Atlanta — extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games.

Marte is hitting .318 right-handed and .234 left-handed to begin the 2022 season.

The Dominican is also hitting .260 on the year to go along with a team-leading 45 hits as he looks to replicate similar success he has had in years past.

“He’s probably one of the better right-handed hitters in baseball,” Sawdaye said. “Once he gets locked in left-handed then he’s getting to that point.”