The Mets believe the next time Starling Marte plays in a game, it will be a different, healthier Starling Marte than was seen this season.
The Mets officially acknowledged Wednesday that the right fielder will not play again this year.
Marte had not played since Aug. 5, after which he was placed on the injured list with a groin injury that had bothered him all season.
Marte returned to the doctor who performed core muscle surgery on the outfielder last November, received an injection and continued to rehab the groin.
He had wanted to make a late-season return, but an expected rehab assignment this weekend was canceled because of travel issues and Marte feeling under the weather.
The minor league season is now over.
They have run out of time for Marte to enter a game, but the Mets are reporting that Marte’s health has finally improved.
“He’s shown really good groin and core strength, sprint speed, hitting metrics that are back to his baseline,” manager Buck Showalter said before the Mets’ 11-2 win over the Marlins in the first game of a doubleheader. “I feel confident we’re going to have a healthy player going forward.”
At 34, Marte looked like a shell of himself in virtually every facet.
The 2022 All-Star’s hitting numbers plunged, he had a poor defensive season and he was noticeably slower.
Marte eventually acknowledged that his offseason surgery, which was performed on both groins, was limiting him.
Showalter said the Mets would check in on Marte several times this upcoming offseason to monitor his health and ensure “there are no surprises” in spring training.
Showalter said he hopes Marte, who “feels great,” will be the club’s right fielder again next season.
“I think he’s got a little gleam in his eye,” Showalter said. “A lot of people talking about where he is in his career. I would not bet against him next year.”
Showalter eulogized Brooks Robinson, a Baltimore legend he spent time with when managing the Orioles.
Showalter ran into Robinson early in his Baltimore tenure, and the two talked for a long while to begin a friendship. Showalter asked Robinson to speak to his club before the 2014 playoffs.
The Orioles announced Tuesday that the Hall of Famer had died at 86 years old.
“The earth was a better place with him on it,” Showalter said. “What a class act. I never heard so many players who played with a guy talk so reverently about somebody.”
Pete Alonso’s two-run home run in the first inning of the first game was his 192nd as a Met, tying him with Howard Johnson for the fourth-most in franchise history.
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