New York Mets Starling Marte (6) motions to the umpire for a timeout after stealing second base against the San Diego Padres during the second inning of Game 1 of a National League wild-card baseball playoff series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (John Minchillo, AP)
Starling Marte underwent surgery in Philadelphia earlier this week to repair a damaged core muscle, the Mets announced on Thursday. The outfielder sustained the injury in the second half of the season and is expected to rehab for eight weeks. The procedure, which was performed Tuesday, went well and Marte is expected to be ready for spring training with no limitations.
In his first year of a four-year contract, Marte was one of the key cogs for the Mets’ offense. He slashed .292/.347/.468 with an .814 OPS and 16 home runs. The 33-year-old was named to the NL All-Star team for the second time in his career.
Marte was also a solid defender in right field, despite having never played that particular corner spot regularly last season.
Marte also suffered a broken middle finger late in the season and the Mets’ offense was never the same. The offense lacked some power as a whole and Marte’s knack for timely hits was missed as the team hit the skids in August and September, failing to secure first place in the division and losing the NL East title in the final days of the regular season.
He returned in the playoffs and went 2-for-12 with two stolen bases.
Marte is the second player from the club to undergo postseason surgery, as catcher Francisco Alvarez had an ankle operation last month.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service