Mets put Marte on IL with bone bruise in right knee
This browser does not support the video element.
NEW YORK -- From the time Starling Marte arrived at Spring Training, the Mets’ goal was to keep their oft-injured, 35-year-old outfielder as healthy as possible.
Their track record of doing so came to an end on Tuesday, when the Mets placed Marte on the 10-day injured list with a bone bruise in his right knee. Marte will refrain from participating in baseball activities for at least two weeks and will be sidelined for a minimum of a month. At best, Marte would return in late July, but his absence could linger depending on his rate of recovery.
“We’ve been very careful with him, giving him a couple days off,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But it got to a point … that we needed to take care of it.”
This browser does not support the video element.
While the origins of Marte’s bone bruise are unclear, he initially sat out a June 5 game against the Nationals due to right knee discomfort. Marte rested twice more in the ensuing weeks before exiting Saturday’s game against the Cubs in the second inning. He subsequently underwent medical tests on Monday, which revealed the bone bruise.
Marte will undergo follow-up testing in two weeks, at which point the Mets will determine whether he’s ready to restart baseball activities.
This marks Marte’s eighth trip to the injured list since 2016. He is batting .278/.328/.416 in 66 games this season, with negative defensive metrics.
To replace him on the roster, the Mets called up outfielder Ben Gamel, 32, an eight-year veteran who came to the club on a Minor League deal in part because of his relationship with Mendoza. Gamel had been hot at Triple-A Syracuse, going 10-for-26 (.385) with a home run and two doubles in the seven games prior to his callup.
“Me and [Syracuse hitting coach Collin Hetzler] just bounced stuff off each other all year long,” Gamel said. “Got hot early and just kind of rode it out, more than anything. We weren’t really tinkering. We just kind of had a plan.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Despite his Minor League success, Gamel profiles as more of a bench option in Marte’s absence. Tyrone Taylor started in right field Tuesday and will be one of several candidates to man that position, along with DJ Stewart and Jeff McNeil.
“Guys will step up,” Mendoza said. “I know it’s a big loss for us, but I feel good about what we have in there.”