Mets Prospect: 3B - Jenry Marte

Jefry Marte 3B R R 6-1 187 6-21-91 Dominican Republic

Marte was signed as an international free agent in 2007.

In late January 2007, Baseball America listed Marte as the 27th top Mets prospect, saying:
“very raw but has big power potential”

In August 2008, ProjectProspect wrote:

Jefrey Marte, OF - 6/21/1991, Rookie, New York Mets: Overshadowed by organization-mate Wilmer Flores, Marte is another exciting teenage infielder the Mets are developing. Although he isn’t playing in the Appalachian League like Flores, what Marte is doing at such a young age in the GCL should not be overlooked. With a wOBA over .380, he's starting to build up his reputation. Marte has shown good power (.197 IsoP) while striking out in just 16.8% of his at-bats -- impressive for someone his age. Now 143 plate appearances into his pro career, Marte has shown just about everything you can ask for out of a 17-year-old third baseman, and he seems like a strong bet to succeed going forward.

In 2008, Marte played a full season with the GCL Mets, hitting .325/.398/.532/.930 in 154 at bats, which included 14 doubles 3 triples, 4 home runs, 24 RBIs (in 44 games), and 19 errors.

In September 2008, Baseball America listed the top 20 prospects coming out of the GCL league, and Marte was ranked 3rd.. He also won the Sterling Award as the the top Met player for the GCL team.

In September, Toby Hyde wrote:

3B Jefry Marte – .325/.398/.532 – 14 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 13 BB, 30 K – 154 AB, 44 G - Jefry Marte has precocious and precious power for a 17-year old. In the games I saw him play, he showed bat speed, strength and some plate discipline. However, Marte was trying to pull nearly everything. Only when a pitcher got in on his hands and jammed him, did he send a ball (accidentally) to the right side. The Mets were pleased with Marte’s progress at third, although he remains very raw. He has enough arm for the position, but must learn to attack groundballs more aggressively. This, like hitting to the opposite field, will come with time and experience. Marte’s bat makes him one of the Mets better prospects. Projected 2009 Start: Marte will have an opportunity to win a 3B job at Savannah coming out of Spring Training


February 2009: - Toby Hyde’s #8 - 3B Jefry Marte - Why Ranked Here: The well built Marte has the potential to be a middle of the order run producer at third base in baseball’s version of the distant future. The fact that the Mets are well stocked at third does not matter to Marte’s value at this point. Marte showed bat speed, strength and pull-side power while leading the Gulf Coast League in OPS as a 17-year old in 2008. Marte has the arm for third, but as he matures, it is possible that he will lose the first-step quickness that the position demands. However, he will continue to play third for the foreseeable future in the hope that he develops at the position where he has the most value. 2008: Marte had a very successful 2008. He hit just .250/.357/.375 in 24 AB against lefties, while maiming righties at a .338/.405/.562 clip. Young hitters often just don’t see quality LHP when they are growing up. Marte drew one walk in his first 35 AB, and then 12 in his next 119, a strong rate for such a young player. Projected 2009 Start: Savannah, based on the Mets history of aggressive assignments for their most talented players.

Mack: Hope Toby is correct about Savannah .I’ve currently have Marte as the 5th prospect, but I’m sure all of agree he is one of the current top 10… lots of rumors of him playing the OF once he gets to A+… we’ll see… ETA… hard to guess…. Probably will finish this year at Lucy, then finish 2010 at the B-Mets… I would think he’ll spend at least one more year in the minors, thus his Mets ETA, if he isn’t traded, would be 2012, in an outfield of Cesar Puello, Fernando Martinez, and Jenry.

February 2009:

MYOB on: - Jefry Marte 3B - He signed for $550,000 out of the Dominican. Jefry had a solid year, hitting .325 with a .532 slugging. He should be able to hit for both average and power and doesn’t seem to be fooled by breaking pitches.

In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect:

6. Jefry Marte - 3B - DOB: 06/21/91 - ETA: 2013
.325/.398/.532, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 30/13 K/BB, 2 SB in 154 AB (R GCL Mets)

While he was overshadowed by Flores, Marte was another big-time success story last season after being signed as a 16-year-old in 2007. He stood out in the GCL because of his ability to drive the ball the other way. It's likely that he'll keep hitting for strong averages all of the way up the ladder. His power will result in more doubles than homers, but he might have the bat to make it at first if his glove forces him off third. He's not going to be an option at the hot corner in New York anyway.

Project Prospect updated their top 200 prospect list in March 2009:

#107 Jefry Marte 3B Put up .324/.393/.538 line in 163 GCL PA, but might be hard to match: .381 BABIP vs. 11% LD

March 2009: My World Of Baseball on: Jefry Marte 3B (Mets) - While Wilmer Flores may not be able to stay at short for the Mets, Jefry has the tools for third base. If Wilmer moves to third Jefry has the speed that he can play the outfield, though he may not develop the power to fit at a corner position and his speed is not adequate to cover center. His .325 average his indicative of what he should do, hit for high average with enough power to be a run producer at third base. What he has to be careful of is that he uses the whole field and doesn’t try to force power by pulling the ball, sacrificing his average but not hitting for enough power to make the balance worthwhile. Next year should be his first year in a full season league.