RADIO
Coming off a 2015 campaign that produced a career-high 19 HRs, Starling Marte will find it difficult to match that output in 2016. Marte’s HR per fly ball (HR/FB) rate in 2015 was 18.6%, meaning for every 100 fly balls he hit, 18 left the yard. This efficiency was a significant increase from Marte’s 12.2% HR/FB of 2013 and 12.7% HR/FB rate of 2014. Was 2015 a peak power year, or is Marte finally translating his raw strength into more taters? To complicate matters further, Marte’s ground ball rate spiked upward last season to 53.8%. Good for 14th highest in the majors, Marte’s proclivity for hitting groundballs will hinder his developing power.
The good news is Marte doesn’t need to bash 25 HRs to be worth a late-second or early-third round draft pick. Over the last three seasons he has proven himself a consistent contributor in multiple categories. Projected to bat fourth this year for the Pirates, Marte should match the 81RBIs he notched last season. Despite his poor plate discipline, Marte has a respectable .283 career batting average. Tallying thirty stolen bases in each of the last two seasons, Marte, 27, is plenty young and should continue to run wild.
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