After overcoming a dismal early-season slump, Arizona's veteran star ignited a divisional surge with a massive 1.563 OPS and his first career walk-off blast to claim NL honors.
For just the second time in his career, Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte has been named NL Player of the Week.
It's been seven years since Marte last won the award. He last did so in September 2019 when he was in his third year with the Diamondbacks after coming over from Seattle.
Regardless, this is a well deserved honor and one that was a long time coming. Arizona wouldn't be 8-2 in its last 10 games without Marte, that's for sure.
Even though he was in a massive slump to start the year, the 32-year-old has done a complete 180. In a seven-game span from May 18-24 he left no doubts as the league named him Player of the Week alongside Boston Red Sox Willson Contreras.
Marte's Incredible Week
Looking back at Marte's numbers through the first 41 games, one would've never expected him to post a 1.563 OPS in a seven-game span. Remember, this is a guy who had an OPS of .619 through those first 41 games. The way he's been seeing the ball lately is off the charts and it's a testament to just how good Marte truly is.
In the stretch from May 18-24, Marte hit .536. If that's not impressive enough, he recorded seven extra-base hits to go along with 12 RBIs. To circle back around to his first 41 games again, it's worth noting he had 15 RBIs in that sample size.
Also, Marte had a trio of three-hit games during this week, something he hadn't done all season up until this point. Marte is as hot as it gets, and that was all highlighted with his first career walk-off homer, something that took far too long to become a reality.
Diamondbacks Couldn't Be Hotter
Marte, who just had a four hit game against the San Francisco Giants, is arguably the biggest part of the team's recent success. They're one game away from winning their fourth straight series, all of which would be against a divisional opponent.
Granted, it's not against the division leading Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Diamondbacks are hoping Marte stays hot through the start of June when they're tasked with playing in LA.
Everyone knows this hot streak won't last forever, but there's nothing wrong with relishing these moments as this is arguably one of the hottest stretches of Marte's 12-year career. For someone who's never finished with an OPS above 1.000, one could only imagine what his numbers would jump to if he's able to stay this hot for awhile.
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