Jefry Marte honored as IL Player of the Month
The International League announced today that Toledo third baseman Jefry Marte has been named the League's Player of the Month for June. Along with recipients from other leagues, Marte will receive an award from Minor League Baseball in recognition of his performance last month.
Marte hit .317 in June and led the International League with eight home runs, 25 RBI, 16 extra-base hits, and 65 total bases. He collected 33 hits in 27 games during the month, producing multiple hits twelve times. Marte entered the month with a .240 average for the season and just five home runs, but a few weeks later he finds himself atop the IL leader board in several statistical categories. Marte ended June in style, clubbing a grand slam in his final at-bat to move into a tie for the League lead with 13 home runs and extend his League-lead with 54 RBI. He also paces the circuit this season with 35 extra-base hits, 139 total bases, and a .498 slugging percentage. Marte has been incredibly effective with the bases loaded, hitting .636 (7-11) with two doubles, two grand slams, and 19 RBI. He is the only player in the IL with two grand slams in 2015. Marte becomes the first member of the Toledo Mud Hens to be honored as IL Player of the Month since Ryan Raburn in June 2007.
Jefry Marte, who turned 24 in June, is in his eighth season as a professional player. He was signed by the Mets in 2007, and after five Minor League seasons he was dealt to Oakland. Marte spent the majority of the last two years with Double-A Midland, hitting .259 with 10 HR and 53 RBI in 107 games in 2014 before signing with Detroit last November as a free agent. Marte is a native of La Romana, Dominican Republic, making him the second consecutive player from that city honored as IL Player of the Month.