Bats/Throws: R/R

Height/Weight: 6’1”/190 lbs

Acquired: NDFA 7/2/07

Born: 6/21/91 (La Romana, DR)

2010 Rank: 12

Why Ranked Here: Marte, who began the 2010 season as an 18-year old in the SAL, made some strides major strides versus his 2009 performance in the SAL.  He struck out less.  He walked more.  He played better defense, showing much improved footwork at third.  More than one scout early in the SAL season told me that they preferred Marte to his teammate Wilmer Flores.  Why?  Marte has natural power and strength.  He could grow into average MLB power.  On the flipside, he still is not natural at third.  While he improved from 2009 to 2010, he still has a way to go to at the position.  When he’s rushed, his arm becomes very inaccurate.  Should he have to move to first, his bat must make huge strides to make him a regular playing at first.  Speed is not part of Marte’s game; he was 4-for-9 stealing bases in 2010.  I think he needs to get himself in better shape.  When that happens, his overall game will take off.

I’ve dropped him 19 places because I just don’t see a star here, but there’s nothing wrong with the ceiling of solid regular.  On the other hand, he missed a bunch of time with a hamstring injury, and those do linger and have a history of coming back.  He was healthy and really good for about three weeks.  He is still young, and there’s still plenty of potential here.

2010: Marte’s season began late thanks to a hamstring he strained at the end of spring training.  He struggled early when his timing looked off.  After an 0-4 on June 30, Marte was hitting an unimpressive .235/.318/.340.  However, he caught fire for 20 games in July ripping at a .354/.384/.585 clip with six doubles, two triples and three homers in 20 games.  Then his hamstring problems returned.  After the game on July 22^nd, he was kept out of the lineup with what was originally diagnosed as a cramp then later upgraded to a strain.  He was sent to Port St. Lucie to finish his rehab, but did not make it back to the Gnats.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Starting, average MLB 3B.

Debbie Downer Says: He never makes it past AA.

Projected 2011 Start: Advanced-A St. Lucie

MLB Arrival: 2014

A lengthy aside on Marte and hamstrings:

I’ve become more sensitive to the delicacy of hamstrings in the last few months and their tendency to reinjury.

I tweaked my left hamstring in September playing ultimate frisbee.  Don’t laugh too hard: ultimate demands a full host of explosive moves including sprinting, jumping and cutting.  Then I was dumb and played on it off and on until early November.  I gave myself a few weeks to heal, did some light rehab, and then skied for 10 straight days over Christmas.  I tried jogging in early January and just felt like I couldn’t get loose at all.  In the last two months, I’ve been pretty dedicated to my rehab program of stretching, gentle strengthening and sprints of increasing rigor and length.  I’m sprinting now, but not at full speed, and out of a jog rather than from a dead stop.  Hopefully, this week, I’ll be able to sprint full-speed and add some change of direction as well in drills.

Obviously, Marte’s care should have been much more complete than mine.  His hamstring is much more important to his livelihood than mine is to me.  My job, (aside from my week teaching skiing) has nothing to do with my athletic prowess.

In short, strained hamstrings suck.  It’s easy to re-aggravate an earlier injury. I’m about six months out from my original aggravation, which I re-aggravated multiple times, and now I’m close to 100%.

Lets see what Marte does with a full healthy season.