Starling Marte exits game with concussion-like symptoms
By Hayden Kane
As the Pittsburgh Pirates have started to play better baseball this season, so has their young outfielder Starling Marte. Unfortunately for the team, they might now be without Marte for a little while.
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Marte was forced to exit Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays with concussion-like symptoms.
David Adler of MLB.com writes the following about the series of events that forced Marte out of the game:
"With one out in the top of the fifth inning and the Bucs leading, 4-0, Marte tried to steal second off Chris Archer. Marte dove for the base as Rodriguez moved toward the bag to field catcher Jose Molina‘s throw, and Marte’s head collided with Rodriguez’s knee.Marte, clearly in pain, was helped off the field by the Pittsburgh training staff, and Travis Snider took his place in left field in the bottom of the inning."
In what has mostly been characterized as a down season for Marte, one in which the team was even mulling over a demotion to Triple-A for the 25-year-old, the numbers are starting to get better: .259/.329/.389 with 18 stolen bases. With Marte finally starting to heat up and joined by Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen in the outfield, the Pirates will hope against hope that this is nothing serious.
For however long Marte is out, the Pirates have a nice option to turn to in utility man Josh Harrison. As needed, the Pirates will be able to use the seven-day concussion disabled list for Marte in this scenario in hopes that he does not have to be out any longer than that.