This article first appeared in Sportsnet Magazine’s MLB preview.
In 2012, Starling Marte made just about the biggest noise a rookie can in his MLB debut: He sent the first pitch he saw over the fence. Only two other Pittsburgh Pirates in franchise history have hit home runs off the first big-league pitch they saw. Some of Marte’s teammates said it gave them chills. Others shrugged and said they expected it.
The 26-year-old Dominican has been making waves ever since. The left-fielder is coming off two straight seasons with 30-plus stolen bases and 10-plus homers. Marte was briefly out with a concussion last season just after the all-star break, but his second-half .975 OPS ranked fourth in the National League, and his slugging percentage in that same period was an impressive .567.
If you’re wondering why you haven’t read more about the guy who wears No. 6 for the Pirates, consider whom he plays with in Pittsburgh. Centre-fielder Andrew McCutchen could be the best player in baseball, an MVP nominee the past three seasons and the winner in 2013. The guys standing on either side of him—Marte and 23-year-old left-fielder Gregory Polanco, whom you might recognize from the other story on this page—help make up one of the most talented and exciting outfields in baseball, but they’re often overlooked because of the man in the middle.
Former Pirates catcher Russell Martin isn’t hesitant to make comparisons between Marte and McCutchen. In fact, he says Marte—whom he calls an “electric player, man”—is better in some ways. “Probably has the best arm in the outfield in Pittsburgh, might be the fastest player. Not as pure of a hitter as [McCutchen] is yet, but I’m sure he’s getting there.”
That’s some high praise. And if Marte continues on his second-half tear from last year, McCutchen may have some company from a teammate on the MVP ballot. That’s the kind of noise you can’t ignore.