The Altoona Curve have announced that Starling Marte was named to the Eastern League Post-Season All-Star team. The 22 year old centerfielder is the team’s lone representative. Coming into play tonight, he leads the Eastern League and the Pittsburgh Pirates entire farm system with 161 hits. He is just five hits away from Nate McLouth’s team record of 166 set in 2004.
He is also 2nd in the Eastern League in batting average (.332) and runs scored with 82. He ranks third in the EL with 35 doubles, 7th in OPS with an .868 mark and 10th in stolen bases with 21 while also recording 17 outfield assists. Since the all-star break Marte has hit .369 in 39 games with six home runs. Marte, who signed as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, has set career highs in every major category including his 118 games played which is 50 games higher than any previous season.
Marte adds to an impressive resume from this year that also includes being named to the EL all-star game, the MLB Futures Game and he was named the Eastern League player of the week last week. Pirates Prospects had Marte ranked #2 overall in the Pirates system coming into this season in our 2011 prospect guide.