When his initial news conference at PNC Park passed and he stepped into the batter's box for the first time after an 80-game suspension, Starling Marte wanted to return to normalcy. For a former All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, that meant hitting for power, stealing bases and tracking down line drives in the gap.
As Clint Hurdle expected, that did not happen quickly, but the 28-year-old outfielder is showing signs that he's still capable of being a dynamic player, going 3 for 5 with a two-run home run Saturday in the Pirates' 6-4 victory over the Cardinals at PNC Park, snapping a six-game losing streak.
"I always try to continue being that ballplayer that doesn’t try to put too much pressure on myself, go out to the field feeling relaxed with no pressure and making sure I’m playing the game right," Marte said afterward.
