Scott Servais: Mariners’ Ketel Marte has a ‘bright future’ but needs to improve at the plate
Oct 7, 2016, 11:05 PM | Updated: 11:06 pm
Ketel Marte hit one less homer and walked six fewer times in 119 games in 2016 than in 57 games in 2015. (AP)
(AP)
The prevailing opinion on Ketel Marte entering 2016, his first full season in the majors, was that he could provide offense for the Mariners but that there were questions about his glove.
With the season over, the narrative has essentially flipped.
Mariners manager Scott Servais told “Brock and Salk” that his young shortstop outperformed expectations in the field this year, but his approach at the plate is what now needs improvement.
“It was an up-and-down year for him,” Servais said. “I thought defensively he actually held his own. He did some things, he improved his throwing. … He really had a hard time getting going offensively and I think coming in … he had such a good two-month run at the end of last season, especially offensively, we were probably looking for a little more consistency there.”
In 2015, Marte appeared in 57 games with Seattle, posting a .283/.351/.402 slash line with two homers, 14 doubles, three triples and 24 walks. There was a significant slide over 119 games in 2016, a season in which he had two stints on the disabled list, as he went .259/.287/.383 with one homer, 21 doubles, two triples and just 18 walks.
Judging by Servais’ comments, getting more hits in the gap or over the wall are now a point of emphasis for Marte.
“You have to drive the ball once in a while, and he really didn’t,” Servais said. “I think a lot of his hits were more of the speed variety, the bunts, the slaps, things like that that he would do. It’s very important to get on base, but at some point (he needs to drive the ball more), and I think he’ll grow into that as he gets a little stronger and understands his swing a little but more.
“When you watch him in batting practice, how the ball comes off his bat, there’s certainly plenty there. It doesn’t play out in the game, whether that’s pitch selection, getting in good counts (or) mechanical breakdowns that happen in his swing.”
It’s important to consider Marte’s age – he will turn 23 next week – when looking at his progress. But that also means the Mariners have options with him, so they’re not resigned to handing him the starting shortstop job again next spring. And knowing how the Mariners approached Mike Zunino’s development after some rough seasons in the big leagues, and how well that went, it wouldn’t be a shock if his role for 2017 is different.
“Young player, he’s growing, he’s learning, and he’s got a bright future ahead of him, it’s just where does he fit for us going forward?” Servais said. “You know, we’ll see what happens this offseason.”
