His home run didn't quite reach Cincinnati, but Noelvi Marte made sure it was loud enough and far enough to be noticed in the Queen City.
MLB's No. 17 prospect unloaded on a two-run homer during Tuesday's Arizona Fall League tilt in Surprise, hammering the ball an estimated 461 feet during the Desert Dogs' 9-3 loss to the Saguaros. Marte's clout drew audible gasps from the crowd at Surprise Stadium the moment the ball left his bat.
It was the second Fall League homer for the 21-year-old, who went deep a career-high 19 times in 115 games during the regular season.
With Julio Rodríguez taking the Majors by storm, Marte vaulted to the top of Seattle's prospect rankings. Unsurprisingly, the Dominican Republic native was the centerpiece of the deal that sent two-time All-Star pitcher Luis Castillo to the Pacific Northwest.
Although he struggled after the deal, Marte still put together an .829 OPS in 448 at-bats. A shortstop in the Mariners' organization, he has shifted to third during AFL competition, a switch that he's beginning to get comfortable with.
“I just want to play a good third base and we will see what doors that opens for me in the future,” Marte told MLB.com last week. “I want to do what’s best for the organization and play where they need me. I’m very grateful to the Mariners because they helped me become the player and person I am today, but I’m also grateful to the Reds and happy to be here.”
Marte has a .710 OPS and has walked nine times in 51 plate appearances this fall.