Sky’s the limit for this 17-year-old prospect
With a proud grin, Ramon Alberto Marte puffed up his chest.
Seated beside him, his wife Francia Serrano buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
The parents knew their son’s life would never be the same after their son, Noelvi Marte, inked a multimillion dollar contract with the Mariners at the team’s headquarters in the Dominican Republic.
Marte, 17, remarked in Spanish, “I remember all of the emotion and the tears of joy.” They expressed their pride in me and informed me that I deserved everything that came my way because I had worked so hard. When I returned to my hometown, I recall finding a celebration waiting for me. I will never forget that day.
On July 2, 2018, which also happened to be the first day of the international signing period, Marte was formally recognized as a professional baseball player. It’s also the moment he started to learn the game and contribute to the Mariners’ future.
Marte is now the No. 13 prospect for the Mariners after ranking No. 10 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects List the previous season.
Top Int’l Prospects: Marte, SS
The Mariners’ director of player development, Andy McKay, stated, “We see an exciting young player who we think will impact the Major Leagues.” “He clearly answered the call, and this is his first full professional season. He has been excellent, and as a first-year player in our system, he really could not have performed any better.
In 65 Dominican Summer League games, Marte batted a stellar.309/.371/.511 with nine home runs and fifty-four RBIs. In addition, he scored four triples, 18 doubles, and 17 base steals.
Marte stated, “I learned a lot about professional baseball and what it takes playing in the summer league.” “The most difficult thing was not giving up on myself and believing that I could overcome my slump—I managed to spend a week without receiving any hits. Since I’m a champion, winners never give up. I’ve discovered that mindset works in any circumstance.
International prospects like as Marte typically begin training at the age of thirteen and spend the next two years showcasing their skills to major league scouts in order to be eligible to sign at the age of sixteen. The life of an international prospect is exciting but hectic; it’s jam-packed with showcases, one-on-one workouts, and games that allow scouts to see the young players as often as possible.
When Marte was fourteen, he left his little village in the northern region of the island and relocated to the capital, which was 70 miles away, to start training at Raul Valera’s academy in Santo Domingo. With thirty years of experience as a player trainer, Valera is most recognized in international scouting circles for his childhood nickname, Banana.
When Banana put me to bat in that first session, Marte remarked, “it stands out because he just kept staring at me and analyzing me.” And now that I knew I had to perform well in order for him to admit me into his program, I was a little worried. Thank God, it was a nice day, and I’m grateful to Banana for encouraging me to pursue my passion. I’ll never forget how he treated me like a son.
For lodging, feeding, and training a player in the years preceding the player’s signing, trainers such as Valera typically receive a portion of the signing bonus. Banana is a part of the Trainer Partnership Program of Major League Baseball.
“He was very intelligent and had a lot of bat potential.” When you first met him, those were the things you saw, Valera recounted from the Dominican Republic. “We soon realized that the swing he had was going to develop into something special during his two years in my program.”
Marte was first observed by Mariners international scouts three years prior at Banana’s program. They were supervised by Eddy Toledo, the club’s scouting coordinator in the Dominican Republic, and former international director Tim Kissner. He was becoming their main target. They witnessed an athletic shortstop with a lot of energy and the makings of a five-tool player. Marte was large and powerful, and he could run. He looked amazing and had amazing makeup as well.
With his parents by his sides, the teenager eventually signed for $1.55 million at the club’s complex. He was enrolled in the club’s academy right away. There was hardly a moment to linger.
“We place a lot of emphasis on strength and conditioning, and Nelsoni is in a window where we can have a big impact on his body,” McKay stated. “With his age and degree of expertise, everything that happens off the field matters greatly. The things that he can do, such as learning English, working in a classroom, and participating in other programs like financial literacy, all while honing his abilities. We are thrilled that he is in our system even though he is still very young and has a long way to go. This allows us plenty of time to work with him. There are a lot of high standards for him.
Marte’s education will continue the following month when he visits the team’s Spring Training complex in Arizona to take part in the six-week prospect high-performance camp, which is centered on the development of both the body and the mind. The club’s third-ranked prospect, Julio Rodriguez, who signed on July 2, 2017, used a similar regimen last year and is excelling in the Minor Leagues.
After competing in the Dominican Summer League in 2020, members of this year’s foreign class—which is led by outfielder George Feliz, who inked a $900,000 contract with the Mariners—will also eventually travel to Arizona.
Marte stated, “My objective is to consistently learn something new every day and to be consistent in what I do.” “When I go to the United States, I want to work hard and continue to give it my all. I will never give up on my goal of making my family proud of me.