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Starling Marte 2023 Player Outlook: Power-Speed Perception May Be Overvalued
2 years agoNew York Mets outfielder Starling Marte had another successful season in 2022, slashing .292/.347/.468 with 16 home runs, 63 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 505 plate appearances. The 34-year-old has always been known for his high averages with the potential for power and speed. While his 18 stolen bases were valuable, they were his lowest total since his rookie season in 2012 (excluding the shortened 2022 season). In terms of power, Marte did not impact the ball hard, with an exit velocity and hard-hit rate both in the bottom 20 percent of baseball to go with a 7.5-degree launch angle. Marte is currently being drafted at pick 78 overall, making him the 19th OF off the board. Given his age and batted-ball profile, it seems unlikely that Marte will be able to contribute meaningfully in HR. Further, it appears as though his stolen base numbers may be slowing down, while more players should be able to contribute in this category due to the upcoming rule changes. Overall, Marte should be a safe fantasy option, but his ADP seems to be giving him a bit too much credit regarding hypothetical production.
