Dragons Receive Star Prospect Noelvi Marte

The Dayton Dragons, in conjunction with the Cincinnati Reds, announced the following roster addition today:

Shortstop Noelvi Marte (pronounced no-ELL-vee mar-TAY) has been added to the roster after being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners.

Marte was acquired from Seattle along with infielder Edwin Arroyo and pitchers Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore in exchange for major league pitcher Luis Castillo, July 30, 2022.

Marte is currently ranked as the Reds #1 prospect by MLB.com, and the Reds #2 prospect by Baseball America (behind Elly De La Cruz). He is ranked as the #17 prospect in Minor League Baseball by MLB.com and #46 by Baseball America.

Marte opened the 2022 season with Everett, the Mariners High-A affiliate, batting .275 with 15 home runs, 55 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. He was tied for fourth in the Northwest League in home runs, seventh in slugging percentage, and eighth in OPS at the time of the trade. He was ranked as Seattle’s #1 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB.com at the time of the trade. Marte is a 20-year-old native of the Dominican Republic.

Baseball America on Marte: “He generates borderline plus-plus power out of a smooth, easy swing and hits rockets that leave any part of the stadium…Marte moves well for his size on the basepaths and is a good athlete at shortstop with twitchy actions, a quick first step and soft hands. He has above-average arm strength…Marte has the potential to be a power-hitting, all-star shortstop if he cleans up his defense. Even if he moves to third base, he still projects to be a middle-of-the-order cornerstone.”

MLB.com on Marte: “Marte has ridiculous raw power, as the young shortstop can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone in batting practice displays. It shows up in games -- he hit 17 homers in 2021 -- especially to the pull side, and he’s naturally good at impacting the ball out front…It’s still up in the air if Marte will stay at shortstop forever. His bat would profile at third and he’s athletic enough to handle center field. The focus is now on shortstop, and that’s the only position he’s played as a professional.”

The Dragons return home to Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District tonight at 7:05 p.m. when they host the Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals affiliate) in the start of a six-game series.

For ticket information, go daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.