Former Tigers Imports: Jefry Marte

Name (Japanese): ジェフリー・マルテ

Date of Birth: June 21, 1991

Hometown: La Romana, Dominican Republic

Family Status: Married, two daughters, one son

Positions: First Base, Third Base

Height: 185 cm (6’1″)

Weight: 99 kg (218 lbs)

Threw/Batted: Right/Right

Wore #: 31

Originally Signed By: New York Mets, 2007 (International Free Agent)

Signed with Tigers on: December 20, 2018

Top Squad Debut on: April 29, 2019, @ Dragons (1-4)

Left Tigers on: December 2, 2022

Cheer Song:

Social Media: Instagram

Career Awards/Achievements: CL All-Star Team (2021), CL Best Nine (2021)

Career Stats:

Brief Biography

Jefry Marte was signed by the New York Mets’ organization at age 17, playing rookie league ball for them in 2008 and posting a .930 OPS. He continued within the system there until 2012, getting as high as Double-A before moving on to the Oakland A’s in 2013-14. He also played AA ball there, but then got his break in 2015 with the Detroit Tigers. After a solid showing with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens in the first half of the year, Marte received a call-up and made his big-league debut on July 5, replacing an injured Miguel Cabrera on the roster. He struck out in his lone at-bat that day, but in his first career start on July 8, he went 2-4 with a double and a home run in Seattle. He would ultimately be traded to the Los Angeles Angels that offseason, and over the next three seasons, would play in 223 major league games, balancing his time between first base, third base, and left field. He would rack up 30 career home runs in 659 career at-bats for his major league career.

On December 28, 2018, it was announced that the Hanshin Tigers had signed Marte to a contract for the 2019 season. He would be looked upon to replace Wilin Rosario and Efren Navarro, who were both released by the last-place Tigers. He chose #31 which holds a special place in Tigers’ fans hearts, as it was long worn by legend (and all-time home run leader) Masayuki Kakefu. He said it was an honor and he would do his best to live up to the number. Unfortunately, he injured his calf during preseason action and missed the first month of the regular season. He finally made his debut on April 29, which was the next-to-last game of the Heisei Era in Japan. The Reiwa Era started on May 1, and Marte got the team started with its first home run of the new era. He would finish the month with five home runs, including a clutch game-tying two-run home run against the Yomiuri Giants on May 29. The game would eventually be won in extras on a Shun Takayama grand slam home run. It turned out to be the best month of his injury-riddled season (he ended up playing just 103 games) but the team liked what they saw enough to offer him another one-year deal that off-season.

The Tigers signed two other import bats that off-season as well, not wanting to put all of their hopes on Marte. He actually started the season at third base, with Justin Bour manning first and Yusuke Ohyama starting the season on the bench. However, an injury to his right calf after just 20 games of action. He would remain on the farm rehabbing for much of the season while Bour and Jerry Sands did a lot of heavy lifting on the top squad. When at last he returned near season’s, though his bat played well, he also set a team record and tied the NPB record by recording three errors in a single inning at Tokyo Dome against the Giants on October 23. (He also added a fourth error later in the game.) Nevertheless, Marte was given another one-year deal at a reduced rate and came back in 2021.

With no other import infielders on the team in 2021, Marte was moved back to first base. He was healthy for most of the season, and contributed early and often. Along with Ohyama, Sands, and rookie Teruaki Sato, the team got off to a great start. Marte helped the team’s spirits as well, celebrating his home runs by mimicking someone shooting a bow and arrow. He dubbed the move “La Pampara” which means “lit.” He was voted onto the Central League all-star team for the first (and only) time. NPB took one month off for the 2021 Olympics, and Marte elected to head back home for a spell. He came back in plenty of time to start the second half of the schedule, but the team deemed him not ready for action, and he spent some time on the farm. He finally made his way back to the top squad at the end of August, and performed reasonably well through the start of October, but slumped badly at season’s end. Nevertheless, he was a big enough part of the team’s power game to be asked back for a fourth season.

Unfortunately, 2022 did not go so well for Marte. He twice hit the disabled list because of leg injuries, and the call-up from the second of these lasted just a half-game. While he had two RBI singles in the first five innings, he was barely able to reach first base on the second of these, and was returned to the disabled list. His lone home run on the year took place on May 18, and though he performed well as a pinch hitter at season’s end and in the playoffs, the team elected to release him at season’s end. On December 2, the decision was made public and official, and he left the team after four injury-plagued seasons.

Related Articles:

Seven Tigers Voted to All-Star Team! (June 29, 2021)

Marte Meets the Press (January 29, 2019)

Tigers Add Garcia, Marte to Mix (December 29, 2018)