Noelvi Marte, adding to his versatility, starts working in the outfield

NEW YORK — Before the Cincinnati Reds’ game on Saturday, Noelvi Marte tried something new. With outfield coach Collin Cowgill hitting line drives and fly balls and Santiago Espinal out with Marte in the outfield to share some real-time advice and insights, Marte started working on playing the outfield.

“It’s another option for us out there,” Cowgill said. “Especially against a lefty, it gives us a chance to put Espinal at third and get all of our righties out there. You’ve seen (Marte) play, he’s a good enough athlete to get it figured out. He has a cannon. He has all of the physical attributes. Now, it’s about practicing.”

Marte originally was a shortstop, but he has spent most of his big league career at third base. He’s a very gifted athlete with the best pure range and arm strength of any of the Reds’ options to play that position. Marte also has shown flashes of a very slick glove, and there’s still upside for him as a third baseman.

The problem is that his throws from the left side of the infield have never been consistent, going all the way back to his time with the Mariners as a prospect in their farm system. Over the last few weeks, Terry Francona has pulled Marte for defense a few times in the latter innings.

After working out with Cowgill in the outfield, Marte and Cowgill were discussing the ways that playing the outfield could help make throwing much easier for him.

“There’s obviously fear of making mistakes on throws, but he doesn’t have to harness it as much out there,” Cowgill said. “If there’s a play at third and he’s in right field and someone is tagging, he has no fear of overthrowing it or cutting it or whatever it is. There’s some freedom to let that arm strength really come to life.”

Center field is set for the Reds with TJ Friedl. But the corner outfield spots still haven’t been settled. Austin Hays has been an every day player when healthy, but he’s also getting plenty of DH days and has also missed time. Will Benson and Jake Fraley have been competing for regular playing time vs. right-handed pitching. Gavin Lux is a mainstay in the lineup vs. right-handed pitching, but he grades out as the seventh-worst left fielder in MLB according to the fielding run value metric.

The Reds have been looking for a corner outfield bat with some pop and some upside for a while. What if it’s Marte?

“He looks natural out there,” GM Brad Meador said. “He’s athletic. He can run. He can throw. We’ll see. I do think we have some flexibility because of the roster we have and our current players being able to play different positions. If we could add, we have the flexibility to add in different spots rather saying ‘We have to add a right fielder’ or ‘We have to add a first baseman.’”

Cowgill said that center field could be an option for Marte down the road, which would really strengthen the Reds’ depth at that position behind Friedl. There’s no timeline yet for Marte to get into a game at a corner outfield spot because of how new this is, but Cowgill is intrigued by Marte’s ability to make an impact defensively at a new position.

“Noelvi has that instinctual ability to play baseball,” Cowgill said. “Anywhere out in the grass, he’s going to be fine.”

At a bare minimum, having Marte able to play the outfield gives the Reds the ability to put their best defensive lineup on the field vs. left-handed pitching.

On Friday, Espinal started the game at right field and Marte was at third base. If Espinal is the more reliable third base option of the two and Marte is the higher-upside defensive outfielder, then the stronger alignment has Marte in the outfield and Espinal at third.

A trade deadline addition at third base could factor into the plan at third base. The Reds have the flexibility to get the best bat available in the best deal for the team and aren’t nearly as pidgeonholed by positions as some other teams.

There’s also the Sal Stewart factor. The 21-year-old third baseman posted a .850 OPS in Double-A before earning a call-up to Triple-A last week.

“We always talk about it,” Stewart said. “The Reds, we need to win. It’s not an if, and or but. It’s nice to establish that early on in Double-A. I hope for a September call up and to help push for the big leagues. Whenever Tito gives the call and says, hey, we’re ready for you, I’m ready to win games. The standard is to play hard and play to win. I’m understanding that and trying to replicate that.”

Stewart has definitely turned some heads and has some big fans in the organization.

Terry Francona said, “He’s the most advanced young hitter I’ve seen in a while.” Francona was also asked about outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez, and the manager said that Rodriguez and Stewart were each “a part of what we’re going to be.”

Two years ago, Marte was called up to Triple-A at 21 years old around the midpoint of the season. He posted an .820 OPS in 39 Triple-A games and then made his big league debut on August 19.

Stewart’s timeline to the big leagues will sort itself out, but his potential gives the Reds another reason to see what Marte is capable of in the outfield.