QUEENS, NY — Starling Marte’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to clinch the New York Mets’ sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies and a perfect 7-0 homestand at Citi Field had to feel a bit more gratifying given the circumstances.
The 36-year-old two-time All-Star veteran outfielder has been reduced to a part-time role within one of baseball’s deepest rosters. Injuries have derailed two of his previous three seasons, including a knee issue that limited his 2024 to 94 games and delayed his spring debut this year until mid-March. The Mets tried to trade him during the winter, considering his spot in right field now belongs to Juan Soto, but they could not find a match.
He has had just 43 at-bats in New York’s first 25 games, primarily as one-half of a designated-hitter platoon alongside Jesse Winker.
“It’s not an easy role for him now after being an elite player in this league for a long time and not getting results,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “…It’s not easy when you’re not getting enough playing time or enough at-bats and just finding a way to stay ready and knowing that when you come into a game, you’re facing a pretty tough arm, most likely in a high-leverage situation.”
That was exactly the case on Wednesday afternoon when Marte got the call to pinch-hit for Winker in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 2-2 game against Phillies flamethrowing closer, Jose Alvarado.
On the second pitch he saw, he ripped a 106.5 mph line drive to left field, but it was right at Max Kepler for the first out of the inning.
After the Phillies scored one in the top of the 10th, the Mets tied it with a one-out RBI double. Brandon Nimmo was intentionally walked, and reliever Jordan Romano struck out Mark Vientos, leaving it all on Marte’s seldom-used shoulders.
“It’s just about simply adjusting,” Marte said. “Making the necessary adjustments. Going each and every day to prepare, going into the cage throughout the game, and to prepare. And as the season goes on, I’m going to be able to get it. I’m going to be able to adjust the way I want to so we can get a handle on it.”
This was a massive step in that direction.
Again jumping on the second pitch, Marte caught up to an inside slider, which broke his bat into “like, 1,000 pieces” and lofted it into center field to score Alonso from second.
“It feels good to be able to come through and help the team in a situation like that,” Marte said. “With the circumstances that I’m currently in, to be able to go out there, try to put the ball in play, focus in on a pitch I want to hit, and be able to come through, it feels really good to see the team smile and come together in a win like that.”
For an athlete who was not only an everyday player, but one of the best at his position for nearly a decade, Marte has been presented with plenty of reasons to mail it in — whether that came in the form of demanding a trade or lightening the intensity with which he prepares. But the veteran has remained a professional through it all, and it has not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
“You have to give those guys credit because they continue to support him, they continue to have his back,” Mendoza said. “Understanding that this is a long season and at some point, he’s going to contribute. Sure enough, he did it today. It was good to see him come through.”
It was just as gratifying for Marte to reward his manager’s continued faith in him, even if the chances have been fewer and farther between.
“Me and Carlos have a great relationship,” Marte said. “Carlos is almost like another hitting coach. There are times when I’m about to go hit and he says, ‘Hey, watch out for this,’ or give me any little tips that I need. Carlos is a tremendous person. We have a great relationship and we’re able to talk about anything. “
