The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced the club has agreed to terms on a six-year contract extension
with outfielder Starling Marte, with club options for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The announcement was
made by Pirates Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.
The 25-year-old Marte spent his first full season in the Majors with Pittsburgh in 2013 and hit .280 (143-
for-510) with 26 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 35 RBI and 41 stolen bases in 135 games. He ranked
third in the National League in stolen bases and tied for second in triples. In addition, he led all National
League hitters with a .402 average against left-handed pitchers and ranked third among N.L. leadoff
batters with a .440 on-base percentage.
“Today is a great day for Starling Marte and the Pittsburgh Pirates organization,” said Huntington. “We
are honored to make a commitment to such a quality young man and exciting young player and we are
humbled that Starling has made a significant commitment to the Pirates.”
Marte made 124 appearances (113 starts) in left field and 13 appearances (six starts) in center field with
the Pirates in 2013. The Dominican Republic native also became the first Pittsburgh outfielder since Andy
Van Slyke in 1992 to collect at least 10 doubles, 10 triple and 10 home runs in the same season.
Rated by Baseball America as the “Best Athlete” in the Pittsburgh farm system prior to the 2011 and
2012 seasons, Marte made his Major League debut in Houston on 7/26/12 and homered off Dallas Keuchel
on the first pitch of the game. In 182 career games in the big leagues, he has recorded a .275 batting
average, 29 doubles, 16 triples, 17 home runs, 52 RBI and 53 stolen bases to go along with a .332 onbase
percentage.
Among his minor league accolades, Marte was an International League mid- and post-season All-Star in
2012 after batting .286 with a league-leading 13 triples. He also led the Eastern League with a .332
average, 178 hits and 38 doubles while being named to the league’s mid- and post-season All-Star teams.