Major League Baseball’s awards season continues to spotlight Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, who on Thursday cracked the All-MLB First Team for the first time in his career.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve made Second Team All-MLB for the position.
Marte won his first career Silver Slugger award on Tuesday and was a finalist for the Gold Glove — won by Milwaukee’s Brice Turang.
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He is one of three finalists for National League MVP with Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. The MVP will be announced on Nov. 21.
This marks the second straight year in which the D-backs had representation on the All-MLB First Team. Rookie of the Year-winning outfielder Corbin Carroll and Cy Young finalist Zac Gallen both made the cut in 2023.
Marte slashed .292/.372/.560 in 2024 to finish seventh in MLB with a .932 OPS. No other qualified second baseman produced an OPS in the .800s.
3 straight games with a long ball
35 home runs on the seasonKetel Marte is MASHING right now 🫡 pic.twitter.com/3cOsnYyKqZ
— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2024
The All-Star also blasted a career-high 36 home runs, amazingly hitting 18 from each side of the plate. He was a clutch hitter, as well, batting .395 with nine home runs in the ninth inning of games.
Baseballs rocketed off his bat, as his 94 mph exit velocity ranked sixth in MLB only trailing Aaron Judge, Ohtani, Oneil Cruz, Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto. He hit one ball 117 mph, which not many big leaguers can do. Only eight players hit a ball harder in 2024.
Marte was the catalyst for an offense that led MLB in runs scored despite a slew of injuries and slow starts from key contributors such as Carroll and Eugenio Suarez.
Meanwhile, Marte’s defense improved to an elite level. His eight outs above average were a significant jump from his one in 2023, as he and first baseman Christian Walker fortified the right side of the infield.
Ketel Marte somehow picked this 107 mph groundout at 2nd base and hit a shimmy mid play to throw out the runner 😭 pic.twitter.com/qnP5h6U5ai
— Baseball King (@BasebaIlKing) May 15, 2024
Marte is 31 years old and under contract through the 2027 season.
The All-MLB teams are a newer honor in baseball which debuted in 2019.