Starling Marte Wins National League Left Field Gold Glove Award

By foxsports
Published

For a second consecutive season, Pittsburgh Pirates’ left fielder Starling Marte has won the National League Gold Glove Award at left field.

The best defensive left fielder in the National League still resides in Pittsburgh. For a second consecutive season Starling Marte has been named a Gold Glove winner. Marte has taken home the award for National League left fielders.

In my opinion, Starling Marte is the best defensive outfielder in the National League. I believe he is the second best defensive outfielder in all of baseball behind just Kevin Kiermaier of the Tampa Bay Rays. This is a well deserved award for Marte.

This comes as no surprise. In 2016 Marte finished with 17 outfield assists, 19 defensive runs saved, and an 11.6 UZR/150 in left field. Marte’s 17 outfield assists led the Major Leagues. This was the second consecutive season in which he led the Major Leagues in outfield assists.

His defensive runs saved was fourth among all Major League outfielders. However, it led all National League outfielders. What is also impressive is that he did this while missing essentially the entire month of September due to a back issue.

Due to his offensive ability and his defensive prowess, Starling Marte is a budding superstar. Marte is one of the best players in Major League Baseball. And, in my opinion, one of the most underrated as well. Furthermore, I believe he has become the Pittsburgh Pirates’ best all-around player. There are few players in baseball that possess his combination of hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, and elite defense.

Starling Marte joins a small list of Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfielders to win multiple Gold Glove Awards in their careers. The other outfielders to do so were Roberto Clemente, Barry Bonds, and Andy Van Slyke.

Congrats, Starling!

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