(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks left much to be desired. They finished 52-110, and after walking off the Colorado Rockies in the final game of the season, they won’t have the no. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft due to the extra win.
However, one person can be named the team’s unofficial MVP. Ketel Marte fits the distinction best out of everyone following Arizona’s 2021 season.
While Marte missed a lot of the year due to injuries, he still managed to have the best season out of any Diamondbacks player. He had the seventh-most plate appearances on the team and still managed to have an incredible season.
Out of qualified players on the Diamondbacks, he had the highest batting average (.318), highest OPS (.909), second-most home runs (14) and third-most RBI (50).
Had he qualified, he would have had the third-highest batting average in baseball, and the 14th best OPS.
Eduardo Escobar is the only other player who comes close, as he led the team in home runs and RBI this season despite getting traded at the deadline. Had Escobar finished the year with the Diamondbacks, he would have been the team MVP.
The 2019 season was the first year that Marte came into his own. He posted the most hits (187), doubles (36), home runs (32), RBI (92), highest batting average (.329), on-base percentage (.389), slugging (.592) and OPS (.981) of his career that year. He finished fourth in the National League MVP race following his first All-Star game selection.
The prior years, 2015-2018, were developmental years for him, as he never really posted any great numbers. Before 2019, his career-highs were a .283 batting average with 14 homers and 59 RBI.
The Diamondbacks had found their central player, and the player who would likely be seen as a cornerstone of the franchise. Since Paul Goldschmidt left, there hasn’t been anyone even close. Marte, barring a trade, could be the next Goldschmidt for the Diamondbacks.
Contact the reporter at mgaraffa@asu.edu.
