AquaSox notes: M’s SS Marte begins rehab stint in Everett

Published 7:00 pm Thursday, August 4, 2016

EVERETT — There is a banner hanging outside the stands just inside the northwest gate as you enter Everett Memorial Stadium.

Featured on the banner is former Everett AquaSox and current Seattle Mariners shortstop Ketel Marte, who hit .247 with 14 stolen bases for the AquaSox as an 18-year-old in 2012.

Marte was back in the flesh Thursday for a rehab stint as the AquaSox played host to the Hillsboro Hops. The 22-year-old native of Nizao in the Dominican Republic has been on the disabled list since July 23 with what was announced as mononucleosis, though he doesn’t necessarily agree with the diagnosis.

“A lot of people thought that I had mono, but it wasn’t mono,” he said. “I got sick; on the All-Star break I went to the Dominican and they got something back there and you can get sick and that’s what I got. When I come to Seattle…I feel like (I had) no energy and everything.”

Marte said he lost 22 pounds due to illness, but has since gained 13 back. Thursday he took batting practice and participated in infield/outfield practice on the same field he graced four years ago.

“It’s great to see and he’s a terrific person,” said Everett manager Rob Mummau, who managed Marte in 2012. “He was a kid when he was here and now he’s 22 years old. Just seeing him grow up as a player and a person and mature — I was telling him today how much better his English is. In all seriousness it was great not only to see him get to the big leagues last year, but also come back here on a rehab assignment and work with the kids.”

Marte advanced quickly through the Mariners system before debuting last season. As an 18-year-old he faced primarily older, more experienced pitchers because the majority of Northwest League players are former college athletes in their early 20s.

“Age is huge,” Mummau said. “One or two years can make a huge difference in anyone’s maturity or development. Him competing at this level at 18 and doing what he did was unbelievable.”

Marte was hitting .277/.299/.356 with a home run and 19 RBI in 74 games with Seattle this season before being waylaid with the illness. He served as the designated hitter and batted leadoff in Thursday’s game.

He said he was scheduled to play Friday and Saturday with Everett before suiting up with Class AAA Tacoma Sunday.

“I feel pretty good,” Marte said. “I’m just here to be ready pretty soon, trying to (see) a lot of pitching. I feel good.”

AquaSox show well at NWL-Pioneer League All-Star Game

All four Everett AquaSox All-Stars had strong showings in Tuesday’s Northwest League-Pioneer League All-Star Game in Ogden, Utah. Brandon Miller started on the mound and allowed a double in one scoreless inning, as did fellow Everett hurler Ljay Newsome in the fourth.

Miller only learned he would be the starter “about two hours before” the game after the scheduled starter, Jesus Castillo, was traded to the Los Angeles Angels organization at Monday’s MLB deadline.

“It was a great group of guys coming from all these different teams and it was great to meet them in person,” Miller said. “You see them all season long. Coming out there and being able to meet them was a great experience.”

Filia started the game in right field and finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Donnie Walton finished 2-for-2.

“I just really try to stick with the same approach (at the plate),” Filia said. “It’s fun because everyone else is having fun there. It makes everything better. I mean, baseball is supposed to be fun. Just joking around with the guys in the dugout, and it made the atmosphere that much better.”

Filia also participated in the home run derby prior to the game. He hit six home runs in the three-minute round with Walton pitching.

“Donnie did a great job throwing to me,” Filia said. “I couldn’t have done it without him. It’s tiring. It’s very tiring. You’d be very surprised. I was pumped that I got six. I was pumped that I got one actually.”

Frogs off to strong start in second half

The AquaSox entered Thursday’s series with a 5-1 mark in the second half and in first place by two games.

Everett had a six-game winning streak snapped by Spokane in the final game before the All-Star break.

“It’s that our guys continue to put good at-bats together and not throw at-bats away, not chasing pitches before you get to two strikes and really controlling the strike zone,” Mummau said. “On the other side with the pitchers just pounding the strike zone and getting ahead.”

For the latest AquaSox news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.