The youth movement in Cincinnati continues.
As MLB crosses the Rubicon in which rookies can be called up and maintain rookie eligibility in 2024, the Reds are bringing in reinforcements as they continue to make a playoff push.
21-year-old infielder Noelvi Marte — a key piece in the trade that sent Luis Castillo to the Mariners at last year's trade deadline — was called up Saturday. With 45 days until the end of the MLB season, Marte will be eligible for Rookie of the Year and a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick for the Reds next year.
He joins wunderkind Elly De La Cruz, infielder Matt McLain, utility man Spencer Steer, outfielder Will Benson, power bat Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and pitchers Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson in the Reds clubhouse. With the Reds two games back of the Brewers heading into Saturday, the directive is simple: Get us to the playoffs.
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Marte has spent time at three levels this year: Rookie Ball, Double-A Chattanooga, and Triple-A Louisville. He is the Reds' No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline and ranks 24th in the MLB Top 100.
Luis Castillo trade
Marte was added to the Reds system in the trade that sent pitcher Luis Castillo to the Mariners at last year's deadline.
He was the headliner of that deal, which also netted the Reds a few other key prospects. Here's a refresher on who else was involved in that deal:
- Mariners get: P Luis Castillo
- Reds get: INF Noelvi Marte, SS Edwin Arroyo, RHP Levi Stoudt, RHP Andrew Moore
Marte and Arroyo were first and third in the Reds' top 30 at the time of the Marte call-up, respectively. Stoudt was at 24, and Moore didn't crack the top 30. The Mariners inked Castillo to an extension after they acquired him, and they snapped a 21-year playoff drought in 2022.
What position is Noelvi Marte?
Marte does present a dilemma for the Reds: Their infield is crowded. That's a good problem to have, but down the stretch, it's going to lead to some interesting managerial decisions for David Bell.
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Marte played third base exclusively for Louisville after splitting time between shortstop and third at Chattanooga and Rookie Ball, while De La Cruz has similarly split time between the two spots this season. McLain has also found a bit of a home at short, though he has also played second while Jonathan India has been injured.
If Marte becomes an everyday player for the Reds, the infield probably becomes Marte at third, De La Cruz at short, McLain at second, and Encarnacion-Strand at first. That locks in the youth movement in Cincinnati, but they may also rotate each at designated hitter as well.
Noelvi Marte stats
There's a lot of optimism for Marte, who has put up solid numbers at Louisville since being called up to Triple-A in June.
At all three levels in 2023, Marte is hitting .279/.358/.454 with 11 home runs and a strikeout percentage of 17.5 percent (his walk rate is 10.8 percent).
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With the Louisville Bats, Marte has hit .280/.365/.455. He has three home runs in 39 games and 31 strikeouts to 20 walks.
"It feels like I was born again," Marte said of his call-up though a translator, per Marshall Kramsky. "I'm just happy that I got the call, it was something that I've been fighting for for forever really, and I'm just happy that I'm here now."
Cincinnati Reds top prospects
This season has been a whirlwind for the Reds, who seemingly have had an endless pool of prospects to bring on board.
Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder, the seventh overall pick in this year's draft, sits at No. 2, while Marte's fellow Castillo acquisition Arroyo is at No. 3.
Also in the top five are Encarnacion-Strand, an infielder known for the power in his bat, and pitcher Connor Phillips, who has battled control issues in the minors this year but has tremendous stuff.
De La Cruz, Steer, McLain, Benson, Abbott, and Williamson have all surrendered rookie eligibility with Encarnacion-Strand seemingly not far behind, meaning next season could belong to Marte and Arroyo.
It's an exciting time in Cincinnati, and this could be a loud team if it does manage to eke into the playoffs by way of a division win. In the meantime, we should just enjoy a team with such an infusion of young talent making a playoff push.