One dugout conversation during the final series of the season illustrated to Clint Hurdle how Starling Marte has evolved into a possible catalyst for change. Between at-bats, Hurdle overheard Marte having an in-depth discussion with Jung Ho Kang about pitch sequences, a revelation considering the Pirates' center fielder struggled to recognize such in-game trends only one year earlier.
Marte, now 30, finally learned to apply seven years worth of major-league lessons in the batter's box. That allowed him to regain some of the credibility lost with his 80-game suspension for a performance-enhancing substance in 2017. Though still mired by inconsistency, Marte became only the third player in franchise history with at least 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in one season, joining Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke.
He also made a successful transition to starting every day in center field and was credited with 3.7 wins above replacement, more than doubling his output from 77 games one season ago. That led the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America to vote him the club's most valuable player. Yet, he was still plagued by lapses in judgement and concentration.
While those plays left Hurdle and teammates frustrated, Marte often followed those with a remarkable display of speed, power and athleticism that powerfully illustrated just how important he is to the present and future of the Pirates.
"You track our season – and he’s not a fan of this – but when he plays at a high level, we play at a high level," Hurdle said of Marte hours before the season finale in Cincinnati. "I’m trying to get him to embrace that fact. You don’t have to think of yourself as an elite player, but when you play at a high level, you are a contagion. You make other people want to play at higher levels. He can create a very positive wake that way. I think that’s part of what he’s growing through and maturing through right now ... understanding that accountability and responsibility.”
To continue reading, log into your account:
