Noelvi Marte

Marte's outlook changed completely in March when he was suspended 80 games for PEDs. He remains prospect-eligible after logging just 114 at-bats last season, and in that time he showed off his exciting combination of power (115.6-mph maxEV, 46.1 HardHit%), aggressiveness on the bases (6-for-8 on SB attempts) and ability to put the ball in play (77.5 Contact%). His 52.8 GB% was uncharacteristically high (45.8 GB% at Double-A, 41.6 GB% at Triple-A), and if that normalizes, he could eventually hit 25 homers in his first full season. Marte's home park, strikeout rate and stolen-base output give him a rare combination of a high floor and a high ceiling long term. Scouts were lukewarm on his defense at the hot corner while he was in the minors and that was the weakest part of his game in his big-league debut. He can make highlight plays, but it's possible he eventually moves to left field, although that probably wouldn't happen in 2024.

Marte probably won't reward those who bought in at the peak of his dynasty value in the summer of 2021, but he is still on track to be an everyday player who provides 25-plus homer pop. Once seen as a potential power/speed threat, Marte's power has emerged as his most projectable tool after he remade his body in recent years to add significant upper-body strength. He stole 23 bases on 32 attempts in 115 games last season, but Marte is trending toward being a below-average runner by the time he is entering his prime, so don't expect more than 5-to-10 steals per season in the majors. The righty slugger who will likely end up at third base figures to be more valuable in OBP leagues (11.5 BB%) than AVG leagues, and while Marte will never have a plus hit tool, he could hit around .250 with a .350 OBP. After getting traded from Seattle to Cincinnati in the Luis Castillo trade, Marte's future home park could aid him in eclipsing 30 homers per season at peak. There's still a lot to like here, even if the profile has changed somewhat over the past 18 months.

Marte has been a top-75 prospect for over two years and is likely another two years away from the majors, but he has been a steady riser this whole time. He has elite pedigree and a tantalizing combination of plus power and plus speed, and he has yet to struggle significantly in pro ball. Marte is far from a lock to stick at shortstop long term, but his dynasty stock wouldn't be negatively affected if he had to move to third base. The big thing to watch with Marte is the development of his hit tool. He has been young for every level he has played at, but it's worth noting that his K% jumped from 22.2% at Low-A to 33.3% in a tiny sample (33 PA) at High-A. His ability to hit for impact power (17 HR in 107 games) as a teenager in full-season ball is a rare accomplishment, especially considering it came with 24 steals (on 31 attempts) and a .273 average. Marte will head back to High-A at the outset of 2022 and could get a midseason bump to Double-A. This will be a very telling age-20 season for the high-upside infielder. He could finish the year as the No. 1 overall prospect in dynasty, but he could also show some warts that lower-level pitchers had been unable to expose.

One of the youngest players to get an invite to his team's alternate training site, Marte understandably went through some growing pains. He went from facing raw teenage pitchers in the Dominican Summer League in 2019 to facing pitchers with big-league experience as an 18-year-old. Once fall instructs began, however, Marte was playing against age-appropriate competition and his play improved drastically. He cut down on his strikeouts and started hitting the ball out of the park with triple-digit exit velocities. He has plus speed and projects for at least plus power. The Mariners are developing him as a shortstop, but considering he is already roughly 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, the hot corner may be his best long-term fit. At 19, and after having been thrown in the deep end this past summer, he could be assigned to High-A and could even reach Double-A this season.

Marte has top-five prospect upside, and this will be the last offseason to acquire him in dynasty leagues for a palatable price. He is on the Julio Rodriguez path -- a high-profile international signee ($1.55 million in 2018) who destroyed the Dominican Summer League (.309/.371/.511, nine HR, 17 SB in 65 games) and will be given an aggressive assignment for his stateside debut. He doesn't have as good of an approach as Rodriguez did at the same age, but Marte is a five-tool shortstop with at least 60-grade speed. He needs to work on using the whole field (23.4 Oppo%), but his 40.7 FB% is encouraging for a player who could develop 30-plus homer power. An 18-year-old who is already 6-foot-1, 181 pounds, Marte may have to move to third base, but his bat should profile anywhere. If he is as good as advertised, he should spend a good chunk of the year at Low-A, and if he hits there, his stock will explode.

In every July 2 international signing period, there are a few top players who already project as prospects who will be better in fantasy than reality. Marte, who signed for $1.55 million out of the Dominican Republic, is a prime example from the 2018 crop. He showcases a classic power-hitting swing from the right side, and may have as much home run and batting average upside as any international prospect in his class. Marte has the actions and a good enough arm for shortstop, but may eventually move to third base. He currently measures in at 6-foot-1, 181 pounds, but looks like he will add at least another 20-to-30 pounds in the coming years, so maintaining good eating habits and conditioning will be crucial if he is to reach his ceiling and not fall down the defensive spectrum. While he is a good runner now, that won't be a big part of his game by the time he reaches the majors in five or six years.