Starling Marte sat out Sunday’s Mets game with groin inflammation, but he did get some good news on the day: he was one of four NL outfielders selected as reserves for the All-Star Game, and one of the three voted in by the players.
“It was an emotional moment; it’s something me and my family had been speaking about for a couple of days, once the finalists came out,” Marte said through the Mets’ team translator on Sunday. “We were trying to figure out our plans for the break, but when I got to the stadium today and found out, I immediately changed my plans for the break. I’m excited to go out there and spend time with my family.”
Marte was a finalist for the two starting outfield spots alongside Ronald Acuna Jr., which were won by Mookie Betts and Joc Pederson – but unlike Atlanta’s Adam Duvall, Marte made the team as a players’ selection, which is why he was so emotional to find out he had made it.
“It’s because of all the work everyone supporting me was putting in to try to get people to vote for me,” he said. “I’ve always said that everything is in God’s time; there was a point where I was frustrated with how the finalist voting was going, but once I was able to share the news, it was just one of those like, ‘you see, all the hard work paid off. All the getting people to go vote paid off.’ God’s timing is perfect for that.”
Hopefully, the timing isn’t bad in terms of his groin issue, as Marte has been a strong signing for the Mets, hitting .292 with nine home runs and 40 RBI so far while taking over the spot in right field. He’s day-to-day according to the team, who starts a huge three-game set with the Braves Monday night, and they’re hopeful to have him back in Chicago later this week (if not sooner) ahead of the All-Star Game.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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