Is it time for the Pittsburgh Pirates to bring up the superstar-in-waiting Center Fielder, Starling Marte? I would say, YES! Starling Marte is in his first stint in AAA and has struggled at times this season, but seems to be coming on strong of late. Marte is batting .287 with a .344 OBP. He has 9 Home Runs, 49 Runs Batted in, 10 triples, and 15 doubles. The guy also has 16 stolen bases. Marte has a world of potential and is incredibly athletic. He is doing everything asked of him in the minor leagues and is just a call away from playing Right Field in PNC Park. The general consensus is that this move will happen sooner rather than later. He is close, there is no denying it.
The move is corresponding with the absolutely atrocious season being put on by Jose Tabata. Tabata received a contract from the Pirates last season in hopes that he would be putting up, well better numbers that this. Tabata has 11 runs batted in as an everyday starter. His .230 average and .290 OBP is disturbingly low. Tabata's 9 times caught stealing is another alarming stat. His lack of hustle and shaky defense is not endearing himself to the Pittsburgh faithful either. Tabata is a very talented baseball player, and he is still really young (only 2 months older than Marte). Alex Presley is another leadoff type hitter that has had a shaky season, but a few weeks in AAA has done him well. Presley has been doing a fine job in June and now July. He also hustles and is scrappy, and that sort of thing appeals to fans. Tabata may not be 100% healthy, but he is healthy enough to play everyday. He may be best served to spend a few weeks in AAA and regain some confidence, because he is an important part moving forward.
Back to Marte. Andrew McCutchen was called up when he was 22 roughly in the same spot of the season, and responded with a .286 average and 22 Stolen Bases. Jose Tabata was just 21 when he got the call and it too was around this point in the season. Tabata batted .299 with 19 stolen bases in his rookie season. The time is now for Starling Marte. He is doing comparable to Tabata and McCutchen in AAA just before their call ups. Marte's addition is slightly different though. Cutch and Tabata joined last place teams with no hope, and little pressure. This allowed them to ease in and play comfotably. Starling Marte will essentially be joining a pennant race(too early?). The pressure will be on for Marte to produce more than it was for McCutchen. Marte has the ability and skill set to do a fine job, and could cement a role in the Pittsburgh outfield for years to come. The question is no longer, "Will he get called up this year?" It is now only a matter of when.
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