Pittsburgh Pirates: Starling Marte proving to be the real deal
By Matt Shetler
One of many question marks the Pittsburgh Pirates had entering the 2013 season was whether or not youngster Starling Marte would be ready to contribute in a big way throughout the course of an entire season.
If his performance throughout the course of the first 12 games of the season is any indication, that answer is a resounding YES.
April 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Starling Marte (6) on the base paths against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. The Chicago Cubs won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Pirates’ fans waited a while to get a look at Marte and when he finally got the call last season, he immediately showed Pirates fans how special a player he could be with his first pitch homer in his first MLB at bat against the Houston Astros.
However there were still questions about Marte entering this season and early on he has done his part to put all of those questions to rest.
Marte was one of the few bright spots amid the Bucs sluggish start with the bats. Now that it looks like the team is picking things up offensively, Marte looks even better at the top of the Pirates order.
All he’s done through 12 games is hit .347 (17-for-49) with an OPS of .874.
He’s had multi-hit games in seven of his last eight games, and showed some pop with his game-winning home run Sunday afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds.
It’s certainly too early to predict that Marte’s hot start will continue, or even that the fact that he will be the anchor at the top of the Pirates lineup for the next couple of seasons, but he’s off to a good start and that is very encouraging.
It may be hard for the 24-year old outfielder to maintain his current pace, but what if he does?
In that case, the five-tool player will have the chance to put up some seriously impressive numbers in his first full season of major league ball.
There’s still a question of plate discipline and a high strikeout rate, but those things are fixable.
Every Pirates fan has to like what Marte has shown thus far in 2013 and he is just another young piece to give fans hope for the future.
Pirates’ fans may have entered 2013 in search of that other big time star to pair next to Andrew McCutchen.
They may have just found him.