Mets activate Starling Marte from injured list, but are still bringing him along slowly
Starling Marte of the Mets connects on a fourth-inning bunt single against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on May 23. Credit: Jim McIsaac
When the Mets placed Starling Marte on the 10-day injured list with a right knee bruise on July 8, they didn't expect him to be out for long.
Manager Carlos Mendoza even called it “relatively good news” at the time, expecting Marte to be back shortly after the All-Star break.
The team’s initial belief was proven correct.
Following a two-week stint on the IL, the Mets activated Marte ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Angels at Citi Field. The team optioned infielder Jared Young to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move.
Now that the righty-hitting Marte – primarily used as a designated hitter in the first half of the season – is back, how do the Mets plan on using him?
“Pretty similar [to] the way we were using him before the injury,” Mendoza said. “DH, pinch hit, and we’re going to have to build him up defensively. But I wouldn't hesitate to put him out there. You just got to be mindful of whether we want him to play a full game or not. And he will continue to get his volume up here with [first base coach] Antoan [Richardson] pregame, but it's more like DH and a bat off the bench.”
Marte, 36, did not start against righthander Kyle Hendricks on Tuesday.
Marte slashed .270/.353/.387 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 58 games before the injury, his second IL stint in two seasons after the same ailment caused him to miss nearly two months last year.
He did not need a rehab assignment this time and missed only 10 games, as the All-Star break split up the July schedule.
Marte was swinging a hot bat before hitting the IL, slashing .333/.373/.435 in his last 19 games. He was 7-for-16 in four games in July, entering Tuesday.
Marte had played only five games in the outfield – four in left and one in right – and just one complete game, in leftfield against the Yankees on July 6. Mendoza said that playing the outfield “maybe” could have contributed to the injury, but he also attributed some of it to running the bases.
“We feel like – and he feels like – he's in a really good spot now,” Mendoza said. “So yeah, he’s a player for us.”
On the day Marte was sent to the IL, Jesse Winker was activated. Winker started the next two games at DH before returning to the IL with back inflammation.
Over the Mets’ previous eight games, Mark Vientos earned six starts at DH and Juan Soto and Jeff McNeil each had one.
“[Marte is] important for the team,” Mendoza said. “He's a valuable player for us...We're a better team when he's healthy and active.”
McGavin’s moment
Chris McDonald, known for his role as Shooter McGavin in the 1996 golf comedy “Happy Gilmore,” threw out the first pitch Tuesday ahead of Friday’s release of “Happy Gilmore 2” on Netflix.
McDonald, 70, was born in Manhasset and lived in Freeport, Baldwin and Merrick before moving upstate when he was 13. He grew up a Yankees fan but said he also loves the Mets.
“I'm a New York fan,” McDonald said. “I'm born and raised in New York, and I moved to California, but I keep a place here. My ties [are] to New York because I'm a New York guy. I’m a Long Island guy.”
Extra bases
The Mets made a slew of bullpen moves prior to Tuesday’s game. Righthander Kevin Herget, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in Monday’s 7-5 win, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Righthander Chris Devenski, who has a 2.38 ERA in 10 games (11 1/3 innings), was designated for assignment. Righty Rico Garcia, who pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings over two games for the Mets earlier this month, reported Tuesday after being claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Monday. Righthander Justin Garza was recalled from Syracuse. Lefthander Brandon Waddell, initially optioned to Syracuse on Saturday, had his option reversed and was placed on the 15-day IL retroactive to Saturday with a right hip impingement … Mendoza said it is still undetermined whether righthander Jose Butto (illness) will pitch for the Mets or Syracuse on Wednesday.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
