D-backs reinstate All-Star Marte from IL

HOUSTON -- Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte was activated from the injured list on Friday after missing three weeks with a left ankle sprain.

Marte was in the lineup in the series opener as the the designated hitter, batting first against the Astros.

"He’s looking great, and we’re really excited about how hard he worked to make this day happen,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "He’s one of the best players in the National League, so getting him in this clubhouse, in this dugout, in this lineup is good for all of us, including him. I know he’s excited to be back."

The 30-year-old second baseman was having an MVP-caliber season before taking an awkward swing on Aug. 18 in St. Petersburg that aggravated an ankle sprain that he had sustained on Aug. 12.

Marte is batting .298 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs this season. He ranked fourth in the National League with 5.4 fWAR at the time of his injury.

Marte may see some reps at designated hitter before going back to second base. The D-backs want to manage Marte's return carefully, just as they've done with Christian Walker since he came back from a left oblique strain on Tuesday.

Lovullo’s message to Marte: “Be yourself, just have fun, enjoy the environment and don’t try to do anything different prior to you being injured. You were playing the game at the pace, at the right intensity. Just remember how much fun you were having and how much having you in the dugout meant to this ballclub.”

To make room on the roster, Jorge Barrosa was optioned to Triple-A Reno following Thursday's loss in San Francisco. Barrosa hit .176 (3-for-17) with an RBI in eight games with Arizona this season.