The D-backs' star second baseman earned himself MVP votes after an incredible year.
This article is part of a series chronicling the individual seasons of players who appeared for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024. Find all previous entries in this series2024 Contract status: Second year of a 5-year extension, $13 millionThe Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Ketel Marte in 2016. This was a different time for the D-backs, with a brand new General Manager, and a club trying to find itself.
The Diamondbacks second baseman hit the ground running to start the season, posting a .307 batting average with a .865 OPS through April. His 5 home runs were also a sign of a returning power stroke in his bat that hadn't come out since 2019. On August 9th Ketel Marte's season-long batting average sat at .297, with an incredible .922 OPS. He had already hit 29 home runs, well on pace for a new career high. Then disaster struck.
It goes without saying that this moment was devastating. For Marte and the Diamondbacks as a whole, an injury of this size was among the worst possible scenarios. Through all of the inconsistencies of a baseball season, and even through the injury, Marte somehow found himself as a beacon of consistency. He managed to hit at least 5 home runs in every month of the year, and incredibly hit 18 home runs from both sides of the plate, hitting more home runs against left handed pitching than any other batter.
Marte also took home the Silver Slugger award for second base, and was a finalist for the Gold Glove. Of course, he was also named to the All-MLB First Team, cementing himself as MLB's best second baseman.A full off-season of recovery will do Ketel Marte and his ankle some good. Coming off a career year, and still only entering his age 31 season in 2025, there is little to dictate that he cannot replicate his incredible production.
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