Starling Marte homers, looks healthy in Mets' opener
Mets' Starling Marte rounds the bases after solo home run against the Brewers in second inning of Opening Day at Citi Field on Friday, March 29, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
As far as single-game samples go, Starling Marte’s performance in the Mets’ 3-1 loss to the Brewers on Friday was an encouraging one.
He ripped a home run and added two other hard-hit balls for outs to create a large dose of Opening Day optimism.
After getting bogged down by a major groin injury last year, Marte has said since arriving at spring training that he is healthy. Finally, he looked it.
“He’s dangerous,” Pete Alonso said. “Having him healthy and back in the lineup is huge for us. He’s so talented.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza said: “When he’s on time and using his lower half, he’s a dangerous hitter. Overall, a really good player. I thought he had a really good game.”
Mendoza slotted Marte into the No. 5 spot in the lineup, higher than he batted upon struggling last season, after his statistically miserable Grapefruit League season. But this version of Marte looked much more like the All-Star the Mets had in 2022, spraying balls all over the field and gliding around rightfield.
“It feels good,” Marte said, “to be healthy.”
Extra bases
Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement) said he told Mets officials Wednesday afternoon that his arm didn’t feel like it was at full strength. That’s why he landed on the injured list days after declaring himself healthy at the end of spring training. “It’s not bad, but I don’t feel right,” he said. “I made the right decision by saying maybe we need to pull the reins back a little bit, hit the brake pads and reset.” . . . Twenty-three members of Bud Harrelson’s family attended the game, including six grandchildren who threw out ceremonial first pitches, as the Mets celebrated the life of the late shortstop/coach/manager . . . Scoreless appearances from Drew Smith (four outs) and Michael Tonkin (six outs) drew praise from Mendoza. The manager said of Smith: “Pretty good. He’s going to get big outs for us.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
