Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario (3) and Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelvi Marte pick up their equipment bags after team stretch during spring training workouts, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz.
Cincinnati Reds Activate Top Prospect Ahead Of Important Series
The Cincinnati Reds activated infielder Noelvi Marté from the suspension list ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the division rival St. Louis Cardinals. Major League Baseball suspended Marté in early March for violating the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program.
In a corresponding move, the Reds sent infielder Liván Soto to Triple-A and moved offseason addition Emilio Pagán to the 60-day injured list.
Marté tested positive for Boldenone, a banned anabolic-androgenic steroid. His punishment included an 80-game suspension (that started on Opening Day) and ineligibility for the postseason. The Reds entered the season with serious playoff aspirations and counted on Marté as an important piece.
Cincinnati Reds Activate Noelvi Marté From Suspension List
Cincinnati initially acquired the highly-touted prospect from the Seattle Mariners at the 2022 trade deadline in a package for starting pitcher Luis Castillo. Though other pieces of the trade have flamed out, Marté looked like he was only getting better. This past March, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the best prospect in the Reds system and the 21st-best in the entire sport.
Last year, the Reds received a big boost thanks to the emergence of various young prospects. This included Marté, who played very well after making his debut in August as a 21-year-old. In 35 games, the youngster played multiple infield positions and hit .316 (120 OPS+) with 3 homers and 15 RBI.
Many expected him to take another step forward this season and help the Reds take over the division. Instead, Cincinnati is six games under .500 and has seen multiple infielders go down with injury, while Marté can only sit and watch.
The Reds could have chosen to activate Marté and option him to the minors. In 12 warmup/rehab games ahead of his activation, he hit just .151 with a .321 OPS, no homers, and 15 strikeouts over 53 at-bats. Fans would have understood if the organization felt he wasn’t ready to return or didn’t deserve it.
However, Cincinnati officials looked beyond the numbers when making this decision. Officials have liked the process behind his at-bats, contact quality, and pitch recognition.
“The reports are all positive,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Physically, he looks good. He’s doing his part to get himself ready.”
The Reds will utilize Marté at third base, which will allow offseason addition and current hottest hitter Jeimer Candelario to DH.
