UPDATE: On Sunday, Marte said that he will return for the series against the Philadelphia Phillies, which starts on Friday, May 2. He will miss the upcoming three-game set in New York against the Mets.
UPDATE: After the game, Torey Lovullo said that Marte will likely be placed on the 10-day IL due to a hamstring injury. The severity will be determined in the next couple days.
During the first inning of Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals, Ketel Marte ($5,700) smashed a pitch to dead-center, missing a home run by a few feet. As he was getting ready to make the turn at second base to make it a triple, Marte pulled up lame with an injury somewhere in the left leg. He was able to make it back to the dugout on his own power, but with a noticeable limp. Garrett Hampson was the substitute.
Marte hit 36 home runs, scored 93 runs, drove in 95 and stole seven bases last season. Arizona just extended Marte for six years and $116.5 million two days ago.
It’s a tough blow for Arizona, as Marte was hitting second against RHP while leading off against LHP. It will be interesting to see how Torey Lovullo manages the lineup for as long as Marte is out.
Hampson is a light-hitting utility player who would likely bat at the bottom of the order. Hampson has a career .122 ISO while Marte was at .268 last season.
