The former top prospect arrived in the Reds organization in 2022 as part of the returning package in the Luis Castillo trade. Noelvi Marte made his MLB debut in 2023, shining in a 35-game sample. Going into 2024, hopes were high in regards to what Marte could bring to the table in his first full MLB season. Unfortunately, Marte was suspended for PED use before the season started and limped his way through the finish line in 2024 as one of the worst players in the league, statistically.
With a full offseason under his belt and hopefully no more setbacks, 2025 could be a big year for the 23-year-old.
Marte’s Impressive Rookie Stint
As mentioned, Marte debuted in 2023, where he slashed .316/.366/.456 for a .822 OPS and 119 wRC+. More importantly, he walked in a solid 6.5% of his plate appearances and struck out just 20.3% of the time, which are usually areas in the game that young players struggle with the most as they get acclimated to big league pitching for the first time. The kid also showed off some of his speed, swiping six bags in that span.
It was an impressive first cup of coffee in the big leagues. It was one that the Reds hoped to repeat itself in 2024 throughout a full 162. As you and I, as well as anyone who watched, I know this was not the case for Noelvi Marte.
Marte’s Abysmal 2024
About as big of a 180 a player’s back-to-back seasons could have gone, Noelvi Marte’s 2024 was a forgettable one. In 66 games, Marte slashed just .210/.248/.301 for a lowly .549 OPS and a 46 wRC+. He was 54% worse than the average hitter in 2024. He walked in just 3.7% of his plate appearances while striking out a whopping 31% of the time.
As if this wasn’t poor enough, he struggled heavily defensively as well. He made constant throwing errors on routine throws from the hot corner. In fact, he was so bad defensively that in 55 games at third base in 2024, he somehow registered -11 OAA, placing him dead last in the league at the 1st percentile.
Marte’s 2025 Potential
Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a positive that can be taken from his 2024 season. He maintained his sprint speed which clocked in at 28.8 feet per second (86th percentile).
An angle to dissect his struggles can be that his entire routine was thrown off due to the PED suspension. What was originally supposed to be a full season for Marte became one split between practicing while suspended, a short AAA stint, and a 66-game season in the big leagues. The hope for Marte is that he can return to his 2023 form at least a little bit. The silver lining is that it couldn’t get much worse in 2025. Reds fans are hopeful for his future as he is only 23 years old. It would be a tough hill to climb for anyone.
Main Photo Credits: Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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