Ketel Marte

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Ketel Marte

| image = Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Marte with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017

| team = Arizona Diamondbacks

| number = 4

| position = Second baseman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|10|12}}

| birth_place = Nizao, Dominican Republic

| bats = Switch

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 31

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = Seattle Mariners

| statyear = June 29, 2025

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .282

| stat2label = Hits

| stat2value = 1,201

| stat3label = Home runs

| stat3value = 160

| stat4label = Runs batted in

| stat4value = 552

| stat5label = Stolen bases

| stat5value = 63

| awards =

3× All Star (2019, 2024, 2025)
All-MLB First Team (2024)
NLCS MVP ({{nlcsy|2023}})
Silver Slugger Award (2024)
MLB triples leader (2018)

| teams =

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2017}}–present)

}}

Ketel Ricardo Marte Valdez (born October 12, 1993) is a Dominican professional baseball second baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Seattle Mariners. Marte made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2015, and was traded to the Diamondbacks during the 2016–17 offseason. Marte has been named the starting second baseman for the 2019, 2024 and 2025 All-Star Game. In 2023, he won NLCS MVP en route to Arizona's first pennant since 2001.

Professional career

=Minor leagues=

File:Ketel_Marte%2C_2015_Triple-A_All-Star_Game.jpg

Marte signed with the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent on August 13, 2010. He made his professional debut in 2011 for the Dominican Summer League Mariners.{{cite news|last1=Pleskoff|first1=Bernie|title=Mariners prospect Marte flashing leather in Minors|url=http://m.mariners.mlb.com/news/article/83013992/mariners-infield-prospect-ketel-marte-flashing-leather-in-minor-leagues|access-date=November 21, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=July 7, 2014|archive-date=November 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123154253/http://m.mariners.mlb.com/news/article/83013992/mariners-infield-prospect-ketel-marte-flashing-leather-in-minor-leagues|url-status=dead}} In 2012, he played with the Everett AquaSox of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League and Clinton LumberKings of the Class A Midwest League. Marte spent the 2013 season with Clinton and the High Desert Mavericks of the Class A-Advanced California League.{{cite web|url=http://www.clintonherald.com/news/article_f489bdc9-e549-5c8d-b60c-587b10804f89.html|title=Marte moves up, Peterson cleans up on league honors|work=The Clinton Herald|date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=November 24, 2016}} He batted .295 with a .687 on-base plus slugging (OPS). Marte started 2014 with the Jackson Generals of the Class AA Southern League and was promoted to the Tacoma Rainiers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL).{{cite news|last1=Curto |first1=Mike |title=Mariners shortstop prospect Ketel Marte putting together nice season |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/08/09/3324377_mariners-shortstop-prospect-ketel.html?rh=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141014203946/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/08/09/3324377_mariners-shortstop-prospect-ketel.html?rh=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |access-date=November 21, 2014 |publisher=News Tribune |date=August 9, 2014 }} He finished the season hitting .304 with a .746 OPS and four home runs.{{cite news|last1=Dutton |first1=Bob |title=Mariners notebook: D.J. Peterson, Ketel Marte cited among top Southern League prospects |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/10/13/3430684_mariners-notebook-dj-peterson.html?sp=/99/512/&rh=1 |access-date=November 21, 2014 |publisher=News Tribune |date=October 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129043635/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/10/13/3430684_mariners-notebook-dj-peterson.html?sp=%2F99%2F512%2F&rh=1 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 }} On November 20, 2014, Ketel was placed on the 40–man roster.{{Cite news |date=November 20, 2014 |title=Seattle claims Olmos off waivers from Miami |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11911469 |access-date=November 21, 2014 |work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}

=Seattle Mariners (2015–2016)=

The Mariners promoted Marte to the major leagues on July 31, 2015.{{cite web | title=Report: Mariners expected to call up top prospect Marte, Montero | work=FOX Sports | date=July 31, 2015 | url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/report-mariners-expected-to-call-up-top-prospect-marte-montero | access-date=December 27, 2024}} His performance led the Mariners to be comfortable with trading fellow shortstop Brad Miller.{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2015 |title=Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto: Trade is a start to a 'more usable roster' |url=http://sports.mynorthwest.com/53836/mariners-gm-jerry-dipoto-trade-is-a-start-to-a-more-usable-roster/ |access-date=November 24, 2016 |website=My Northwest}} However, Marte struggled in 2016, batting .259 with a .287 on-base percentage and striking out 84 times in 119 games. He also went on the disabled list three times. The Mariners attempted to trade Marte in exchange for the Cincinnati Reds' Zack Cozart during the season.{{cite web | last=Divish | first=Ryan | title=Finding an upgrade at shortstop won't be simple for the Mariners | website=The Seattle Times | date=November 9, 2016 | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/finding-an-upgrade-at-shortstop-wont-be-simple-for-the-mariners/ | access-date=December 27, 2024}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks (2017–present)=

On November 23, 2016, the Mariners traded Marte and Taijuan Walker to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, and Zac Curtis.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mariners-d-backs-swap-taijuan-walker-segura-as-part-of-5-player-trade/|title=Mariners, D-Backs swap Taijuan Walker, Segura as part of 5-player trade: Arizona gets help in the rotation while Seattle lands an impact infielder|first=Dayn|last=Perry|work=CBS Sports|date=November 23, 2016|access-date=November 24, 2016}} Marte began the 2017 season with the Reno Aces of the PCL. The Diamondbacks promoted him to the major leagues on June 28.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2017/06/29/ss-ketel-marte-next-man-up-arizona-diamondbacks-look-keep-winning-despite-injuries/438138001/|title=SS Ketel Marte next man up as Diamondbacks look to keep winning despite injuries|first=Bob|last=McManaman|website=The Arizona Republic|date=June 29, 2017|accessdate=October 29, 2023}} In the 2017 National League Wild Card Game, he hit two triples in an 11–8 win over the Colorado Rockies. Marte was moved from shortstop to second base by the Diamondbacks at the beginning of the 2018 season to make room for shortstop Nick Ahmed in the Arizona starting infield. In 2018, Marte led all of MLB in triples with 12.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

File:Ketel Marte (48053160612) (cropped).jpg

Batting .316 with 20 home runs and 51 RBIs, Marte was named the starting second baseman for the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.{{cite web | title=Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte voted 2019 MLB All-Star Game starter | website=Arizona Sports | date=June 27, 2019 | url=https://arizonasports.com/story/1991196/diamondbacks-ketel-marte-voted-2019-mlb-all-star-game-starter/ | access-date=December 27, 2024}} The following season, Marte hit .287 with 2 home runs and 17 RBI. On April 8, 2021, Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. He returned on May 19.

On March 29, 2022, Marte signed a five-year, $76 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks.{{cite web|title=Ketel Marte, D-backs finalize 5-year extension|url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/ketel-marte-d-backs-extension|first=Steve|last=Gilbert|website=MLB.com |date=March 29, 2022|accessdate=March 29, 2022}} He finished the 2022 season with a .240 batting average.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2022/10/04/gm-hazen-d-backs-looking-more-ketel-marte-2023/8182442001/|title=GM Hazen: D-Backs will be looking for more from Ketel Marte in 2023|first=Nick|last=Piecoro|website=The Arizona Republic|date=October 4, 2022|accessdate=October 29, 2023}}

In Game 3 of the 2023 National League Championship Series, Marte hit a walk-off single for his third hit of the night as the Diamondbacks won 2–1.{{cite web |last1=Axsia |first1=Mike |title=Diamondbacks vs. Phillies score, highlights: Ketel Marte's walk-off single gives Arizona life in NLCS |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/diamondbacks-vs-phillies-score-highlights-ketel-martes-walk-off-single-gives-arizona-life-in-nlcs/live/ |website=cbssports.com |date=October 20, 2023 |access-date=October 20, 2023}} In Game 7, Marte extended his postseason hitting streak to 16 games, the longest hitting streak by any player to start his postseason career in MLB history.{{cite web | last=Casella | first=Paul | title=Ketel Marte named 2023 NLCS MVP | website=MLB.com | date=October 25, 2023 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ketel-marte-hitting-streak-to-open-postseason-career-record | access-date=December 23, 2024}} Marte finished the series batting .387 and was awarded the 2023 NLCS MVP.{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Dayn |title=Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte named NLCS MVP after setting MLB record to begin postseason career |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/diamondbacks-ketel-marte-named-nlcs-mvp-after-setting-mlb-record-to-begin-postseason-career/ |website=cbssports.com |date=October 25, 2023 |access-date=October 25, 2023}} Marte extended his streak to 18 games in Game 2 of the 2023 World Series, setting the MLB record.{{cite web | last=Estrada | first=Lorenzino | title=DBacks' Ketel Marte makes MLB postseason history | website=The Arizona Republic | date=October 29, 2023 | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2023/10/28/dbacks-ketel-marte-playoff-hitting-streak/71365510007/ | access-date=October 11, 2024}} Marte ended his streak in Game 5 of the series, the longest hit streak in postseason history at 20 games, passing Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, and Hank Bauer, who all had 17-game streaks. Marte was the last out of the 2023 World Series, striking out looking against Rangers reliever Josh Sborz to clinch the series for the Rangers.

Batting .292 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs, Marte was named the starting second baseman for the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.{{cite web | title=Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte voted 2019 MLB All-Star Game starter | website=Arizona Sports | date=July 15, 2024 | url=https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/diamondbacks-ketel-marte-to-lead-off-for-national-league-in-2024-mlb-all-star-game/3551014/| access-date=April 2, 2025}} On August 19, 2024, Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain. He returned on September 6. He ended the 2024 season with batting .292 with a career-high 36 HRs and 95 RBI. After the 2024 season, Marte won his first Silver Slugger award of his career.{{cite web | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2024/11/12/ketel-marte-silver-slugger-award-diamondbacks-mlb/76237610007/ | title=Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte wins first career Silver Slugger Award}}

On April 2, 2025, the Diamondbacks signed Marte to a six-year contract extension worth $116.5 million guaranteed.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks Sign Ketel Marte To Extension|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/diamondbacks-ketel-marte-agree-to-extension.html|access-date=April 4, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} On April 5, 2025, Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. He returned on May 2. On June 2 against the Atlanta Braves, Marte reached third place on the all-time career RBIs list as a D-back with 481. He surpassed Steve Finley’s 479 with his two-run homer in the third inning. Only Luis Gonzalez (774) and Paul Goldschmidt (710) are ahead of Marte on Arizona's all-time list.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ketel-marte-corbin-carroll-have-2-homer-games-in-d-backs-win-vs-braves |title=With 2-HR game, Marte among legends on Arizona's all-time RBI list |date=June 3, 2025 |access-date=June 5, 2025 |website=MLB.com}}

Personal life

Marte is the nephew of Wilson Valdez, and is married to the cousin of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1015600/2019/06/07/ketel-marte-excited-to-play-his-cousin-in-law-the-once-spoiled-always-talented-vlad-guerrero-jr/|title=Ketel Marte excited to play his cousin-in-law -- the once...|last=Buchanan|first=Zach|website=The Athletic|date=April 25, 2019 |access-date=June 7, 2019}}