The Diamondbacks placed star second baseman Ketel Marte on the injured list on Monday with a sprained left ankle. Marte missed two games last week despite the injury.
Marte is having an incredible season, hitting .298 with a .930 OPS and 30 home runs. He was considered a strong candidate for the National League MVP award, but this injury threatens to derail his chances. The earliest he could return from the IL is August 29, the final day of a three-game home series against the New York Mets.
On Sunday, Marte came on as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays, but fell to the ground during a controlled swing and had to be led off the field.
Marte was similarly hampered as he attempted to bat in the last home game against the Colorado Rockies.
In between, he managed to bat four times as a designated hitter against the Rays on Saturday without any apparent incidents, making 1 of 3 hits and walking one.
Marte sustained the injury on August 10 when Phillies’ Garrett Stubbs slid into him at second base, putting his weight on Marte’s left leg.
Three days later, Marte underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and was diagnosed with a “mild sprain of the left ankle,” manager Torey Lovullo said.
Marte’s place on the roster will be taken by first baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith, who was recalled from Triple-A Reno.
As was the case last week, infielders Kevin Newman and Blaze Alexander are expected to share time at second base during Marte’s absence.
