Altoona Curve outfielder Starling Marte was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending August 14th, the Eastern League office announced earlier today. It is the first career Player of the Week award for Marte and it’s the third time this season a Curve player has been selected as a Player or Pitcher of the Week.
Marte, 22, batted .556 (15-for-27) during the week with four doubles, one triple, one home run, two RBI and 10 runs scored during the week. His stellar performance during the week shot his average up from .312 to its current spot at .327, which now actively leads the Eastern League ahead of New Hampshire’s Travis d’Arnaud. The Santo Domingo, D.R. also leads the league in hits (146), is fourth in doubles (32), second in runs scored (72) and second in total bases (220).
The awards adds to an already standout season for the fourth-best prospect in the organization heading into 2011 according to Baseball America. Marte was named an Eastern League All-Star in his first season in the league and was also selected to play in the XM Futures Game during this year’s All-Star Week festivities in Phoenix, Ariz.
He’s played in 108 games this year, surpassing his previous season-high of 68 in 2010 with Bradenton and the GCL Pirates. His 32 doubles, six triples and 10 home runs are all new career highs for the 22-year-old Marte. His 44 runs driven in tie a career high, which he set back in 2008 with the DSL Pirates.
Marte joins Jordy Mercer and Aaron Thompson as the Curve members to earn a weekly award in 2011. This week’s E.L. Pitcher of the Week was Harrisburg’s Erik Arnesen.
