Lets meet the 23 year old left fielder, Starling Marte, from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marte was signed by the Pirates as a free agent in 2007, where he spent his 5 and a half years in the Pirates minor leagues. Marte was called up on July 26th where he went 2-4 and had a homer in his first career start, on his first seen pitch. At 23 Marte is another piece to the Pirates championship puzzle.

Marte’s career with the Pirates started in 2007 when Marte started with the Pirates Dominican Summer league. Marte would spend his first two seasons with Pirates Dominican team where he batted .270 with 105 hits, 14 doubles, 3 triples, and 10 homers in 110 games over the two seasons.

In 2009 the young 20 year old would play for 3 different teams in the Pirates minor league system. Marte played just 2 games for the Pirates rookie ball team before being moved to the Pirates lower single a team the West Virginia Power.

For the Power, Marte played in 54 games, batting .312 with 69 hits, 9 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers, 34 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.

Marte was called up to the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Pirate high a club. Marte would play in just 1 game where he went 2-2 with a RBI in his only opportunity.

In 2010 Marte would again start on the Pirates rookie ball team for just 6 games where he batted .346 in the short span before being called up to the Bradenton Marauders. Marte played in 60 games for the Marauders batting .315 with 70 hits, 16 doubles, 5 triples, 33 RBI, and 22 stolen bases on the season.

The 2011 season saw Marte start and end the season with the Pirates AA team, the Altoona Curve. Marte would play in 129 games. Marte batted .332 with 178 hits, 38 doubles, 8 triples, 12 homers, 50 RBI, 24 stolen bases. This was Marte’s breakout season at just 21 and everybody knew it was just a matter of time before he would make it to the big league.

This season had Marte start the year with the Pirates AAA team, the Indianapolis Indians. Marte would play 99 games for the Indians, batting .286 with 111 hits, 21 doubles, 13 triples, 12 homers, 62 RBI, and 21 stolen bases before being called up to the Pirates.

Marte has now been with the Pirates for 11 games, and the Pirates are 7-4 with Marte in the lineup. Marte has just 11 hits in 45 at bats for a .244 batting average, but it is still very early in his young career for the Pirates. Marte adds more youth to a pirates team that is already the 9th youngest team in baseball. Marte brings speed on the base pads, and a developing bat at the plate. Marte could be a huge part of the Pirates push to catch the Cincinnati Reds for the N.L. Central title. Lets see what Marte can do in the clubs final 50 games.

Coach Tom