Starling Marte drilled in head by pitch, forced to leave Mets spring training game early
Initial concussion tests were negative for Marte, though Mets will be watching him closely
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York Mets veteran outfielder Starling Marte had to leave the team’s spring training game early against the Tampa Bay Rays after getting beaned in the head in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Minor league pitcher Elvin Rodriguez lost control of a 93 mph fastball and it ran up to Marte’s head. He couldn’t get out of the way in time, and manager Buck Showalter jumped out of the dugout immediately.
Marte was able to walk off on his own power, but the Mets took him out of the game out of caution.
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Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets reacts after an out against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning in game three of the National League Wild Card Series at Citi Field on October 09, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Concussion tests immediately following the incident were negative on Marte, and Showalter knows it could’ve been a lot worse.
"He may have gotten lucky – you hope so," Showalter said via the New York Post. "He will be getting a few calls during the course of the next 24 hours to make sure everything is fine."
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It was Marte’s second game of the spring as the Mets have been slow playing him after undergoing double groin surgery in November. But hit-by-pitches are something the Mets unfortunately had to deal with more than any other team in MLB last season, and Marte was on the receiving end of a few.
He had to miss most of September leading into the postseason because he broke his finger on a hit-by-pitch.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York Mets' Starling Marte runs the bases after his first-inning home run during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Marte is a key piece of the Mets’ outfield as he was when he signed with the club last offseason. The 34-year-old thrived in Flushing, Queens, slashing .292/.347/.468 with 16 homers and 63 RBI in his second career All-Star campaign.
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Marte will like to play a full season, though, as his injuries forced him to play just 118 games out of 162.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on September 23, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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The Mets will hope that Marte is healthy for their March 30 Opening Day matchup against the Miami Marlins on the road.