Mets' Starling Marte hits injured list, will miss at least four weeks with 'deep bone bruise'
Starling Marte #6 of the Mets singles during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
After he tried for weeks to play through pain, Starling Marte and the Mets adopted a different approach Tuesday.
The outfielder landed on the injured list with a “deep bone bruise,” as manager Carlos Mendoza described it, in his right knee.
He will miss at least four weeks, according to Mendoza. The first half of that: “limited impact” exercise and no baseball activity, he said. Then Marte will get another round of tests to help determine if he is ready to start a comeback.
“We’ll get through it,” Mendoza said. “Guys will step up. I know it’s a big loss for us, but we feel good with what we have in there.”
What the Mets have for rightfield in the interim: Tyrone Taylor, who got the start in the Subway Series opener against the Yankees; DJ Stewart, who has played plenty of right this season and last; second baseman Jeff McNeil, whom Mendoza said he is very comfortable putting back in the corner outfield; and veteran Ben Gamel, called up from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Marte’s roster spot.
Using McNeil in right would make room for Jose Iglesias at second. Iglesias entered the week batting .400 with a .905 OPS (in 14 games), quickly becoming a favorite of Mendoza and teammates. His playing time has largely been limited to starts against lefthanded pitchers.
“That’s in play. He’s done it in the past,” Mendoza said of McNeil. “With Iglesias playing the way he’s playing, it’s matchup-based. We'll play it day by day. I wouldn’t hesitate to use McNeil in rightfield if I feel like that’s a good matchup for Iglesias.”
Mendoza said he did not know how Marte initially got hurt. The Mets did not make Marte available for an interview.
“He couldn’t pinpoint it,” Mendoza said of the injury origin.
Marte has been a reliable offensive presence, lately in the middle of the Mets’ lineup. His numbers: .278 average, .328 OBP, .416 slugging percentage, plus 12 stolen bases in as many tries. Even as various defensive metrics have rated him as the worst outfielder in the majors — sometimes taking odd routes or loafing to balls — he has remained helpful at the plate.
Gamel, 32, has played parts of eight seasons with six teams — including 2016 with the Yankees, who drafted him in 2010.
He had done well with Syracuse, slashing .314/.423/.539 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 45 games.
Over the offseason, Gamel signed a minor-league deal with the Mets after reconnecting with Mendoza, his manager with the Charleston RiverDogs in 2012.
He said he made the five-hour drive from Syracuse to Queens with his wife and their baby Tuesday after getting the good news.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been here. It never gets old to hear. It’s always a very refreshing phone call,” Gamel said. “Nothing’s really been specified yet [regarding his role], but I’ve pretty much covered every role on a big-leaguer roster at this point in my career. Whatever they need me to do, I’m more than willing.”
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.
