Reds FeedNoelvi Marte
RF · Age 25 · Bats Right
Where things stand
Noelvi Marte is playing centerfield for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League as the Reds work to address his plate discipline issues heading into 2027. The 24-year-old prospect batted just .189 in 63 major league games during a disappointing 2026 season, though he hit .332 at Triple-A Louisville. Cincinnati remains committed to developing Marte despite his struggles, with his primary focus being to reduce a chase rate that jumped to 41% last season. The Reds' front office has acknowledged that Marte is among several young players who failed to translate minor league success to the majors in 2026.
Synthesized by MLB Feed Network from the 28 stories below. How we write these
2026 season
Stats from the MLB Stats API.
Contract
See the full Reds payroll.
Noelvi Marte coverage
Reds outfielder Carlos Jorge homers in Winter League debut
Carlos Jorge hit a 404-foot home run in his Dominican Winter League debut, helping the Gigantes Del Cibao defeat their opponent. Jorge started in center field and leadoff, finishing 1-for-4, while teammate Noelvi Marte contributed an RBI sacrifice fly and a stolen base in the victory. The home run came in the seventh inning and extended the Gigantes' lead to three runs in the final innings.
Redleg NationThe Reds may be better at finding talent than developing it
The Reds have produced talent that found success elsewhere, with Jake Bauers, Nathaniel Lowe, and Ryan Vilade all contributing to playoff teams after leaving Cincinnati. While the Brewers, Guardians, and Rays have excelled at maximizing low-cost acquisitions, the Reds' core problem appears to be player development rather than talent evaluation. The organization has traded away players like Lowe and Vilade who are now performing well, and has struggled to develop prospects like Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo despite some successes with Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart. Improving the development system would be necessary for Cincinnati to compete with these small-market rivals.
Blog Red MachineReds' castoff is thriving with Rays and highlights a key offseason need
Ryan Vilade, a utility player the Cincinnati Reds traded to Tampa Bay for cash in November 2025, has emerged as a key contributor for the Rays during their playoff run, including hitting a go-ahead home run in their ALDS Game 3 victory over the Yankees. The Reds acquired Vilade from St. Louis in June 2025 but left him in Triple-A, blocked by Matt McLain and Noelvi Marte, before dealing him away. With the Rays, Vilade played multiple infield and outfield positions across 96 games and posted a -0.1 wins above average, a performance that could have significantly helped Cincinnati's position players, who contributed a third-worst -10 wins above average in 2026. The move highlights a missed opportunity for the Reds, who struggled at non-pitcher positions despite having Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart.
Blog Red MachineNoelvi Marte's Winter League development says plenty about the Reds' plans
Noelvi Marte is playing centerfield for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, signaling the Reds' continued investment in the 24-year-old prospect despite his disappointing 2024 season. Marte batted just .189 in 63 major league games and spent most of the year at Triple-A Louisville, where he hit .332 with a 125 wRC+. The Reds remain committed to developing him given his age, remaining minor league options, and pre-arbitration status, though his primary concern heading into 2027 will be reducing his unsustainably high chase rate rather than defensive positioning.
Blog Red MachineReds Notebook: Winter League Baseball could make a difference
The Cincinnati Reds' disappointing 2026 season saw most of their young prospects struggle at the plate, with only Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz producing consistently. Players like Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Hector Rodriguez, and Carlos Jorge failed to translate minor league success to the majors, with Marte's chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone jumping from 29% in his 2023 debut to 41% in 2026. Several of these players are expected to play in winter leagues in their home countries this offseason to work on their hitting approach and pitch recognition. Top prospect catcher Alfredo Duno will play in the Venezuelan Winter League for the first time after finishing 2026 in Double-A, as the Reds prepare for the likely departure of Tyler Stephenson to free agency.
Redleg NationReds could find the perfect platoon bat hiding on the White Sox playoff roster
Randal Grichuk, a 34-year-old outfielder currently with the White Sox, could be an ideal platoon option for the Cincinnati Reds in 2027. After struggling with the Yankees early in 2026, Grichuk was signed to a minor-league deal by Chicago and has since posted a .299 average with 15 home runs in 101 games, while hitting .327 against left-handed pitchers. The Reds currently lack right-handed outfield depth, with Blake Dunn potentially missing the entire season due to elbow surgery and Noelvi Marte likely to start in the minor leagues. As a free agent after the season, Grichuk would not command a large contract at age 35 and could fill the complementary role the Reds need alongside their left-handed hitting outfielders.
Blog Red MachineReds News: Noelvi Marte offseason plans, GABP attendance, top prospect's AFL debut
Noelvi Marte finished the 2026 season as the Reds' biggest disappointment after hitting .189 with a negative 1.4 fWAR across 63 games before being optioned to Triple-A. The team's plans for Marte heading into 2027 include a stint with Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, where he can work on his plate discipline issues. Cincinnati's home attendance dropped from an average of 26,967 fans per game in 2025 to 24,588 in 2026, representing nearly 193,000 fewer fans at Great American Ball Park. Prospect pitcher Luke Holman, the 71st overall pick in the 2024 draft, made his Arizona Fall League debut for the Peoria Javelinas after spending most of 2026 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Blog Red MachineKrall Discusses Reds’ Position Player Needs
Cincinnati finished last in the NL Central with an offense ranked at the bottom of the National League in scoring, prompting baseball operations president Nick Krall to outline the team's position player needs. Seven players who received over 100 plate appearances posted an OPS below .650, including prospect Noelvi Marte, whom Krall criticized for batting .189 in 63 games before being optioned in August. The Reds plan to address deficiencies in the outfield by seeking defensive-minded players with speed, add at least one infielder for second or third base, and find a catcher after Tyler Stephenson enters free agency, with top prospect Alfredo Duno not expected to be ready until late 2027.
MLB Trade RumorsREVEALED: CINCINNATI REDS 2026 Collapse—Did Terry Francona’s DECISIONS Make Or Break The Team? | Cincinnati Reds Podcast
The Cincinnati Reds finished 2026 with a disappointing 75-87 record, and the episode examines whether manager Terry Francona's decisions contributed to the collapse. Despite bright spots like Elly De La Cruz's 30-30 season, Sal Stewart's rookie success, and Chase Burns' emergence as an ace, the team struggled with offensive inconsistency, rotation injuries to Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, and bullpen fatigue, while Francona faced criticism for his reluctance to adjust lineups and his reliance on underperforming veterans. The host grades Francona's 2026 performance a C and questions whether he can adapt his managing style to maximize young talent like Noelvi Marte and Matt McLain heading into 2027.
Locked On RedsScathing Reds' report lets Nick Krall off the hook (but can't absolve him completely)
The Athletic reported that Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini and President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall had a tense meeting earlier this season, where Castellini questioned why the team couldn't sustain success like the Milwaukee Brewers. Krall reportedly presented a list of trades he wanted to make to build a young talent base, but Castellini rejected proposals that would have involved trading established players like Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo. While the report suggests Castellini blocked potentially beneficial trades, Krall remains responsible for questionable deals he did complete, including acquiring Ke'Bryan Hayes for prospect Sammy Stafura and trading Luis Castillo for a package that included Edwin Arroyo and Noelvi Marte.
Blog Red MachineReds' shocking social media nugget makes Nick Krall's future even harder to defend
The Cincinnati Reds have five of baseball's nine worst hitters by wRC+ (a measure of offensive value), and General Manager Nick Krall acquired four of them through trades. The group includes Ke'Bryan Hayes (17 wRC+, the worst in baseball), Noelvi Marte (47 wRC+), Edwin Arroyo (46 wRC+), and Jose Trevino (46 wRC+), while TJ Friedl (43 wRC+) was recently designated for assignment. Hayes and Trevino remain under contract for next season with a combined $12.25 million in salary, making Krall's roster construction decisions difficult to justify.
Blog Red MachineReds release yet another Nick Krall acquisition from the 2022 trade deadline
The Cincinnati Reds released minor-league shortstop Victor Acosta on Tuesday, continuing a pattern of failed acquisitions from the 2022 trade deadline. Acosta, obtained from San Diego in the Brandon Drury deal, never progressed beyond A-Ball despite playing over 400 minor-league games and was hitting .248/.339/.428 this season before his release. Several other prospects from that deadline haul have also departed the organization, including Andrew Moore and Levi Stoudt from the Luis Castillo trade, while remaining pieces like Edwin Arroyo and Noelvi Marte have underperformed at Triple-A. Spencer Steer stands as the lone success from those deadline trades but is currently sidelined with a wrist injury.
Blog Red MachineReds have one overlooked reason to give Noelvi Marte another shot
Noelvi Marte, optioned to Triple-A Louisville in August after struggling with the Reds, may get another opportunity despite his poor performance because his service time was not accumulated during his 2024 PED suspension or his time in the minors this season. This means Marte will earn only the league minimum in 2027 rather than receiving an arbitration raise, giving Cincinnati financial incentive to retain him on the 40-man roster. Though Marte has shown defensive tools as an outfielder, his undisciplined hitting approach with a 41.2% chase rate has been his primary weakness, but a coaching change could potentially help address his batting issues.
Blog Red MachineJust how bad is ‘bad’ on the Cincinnati Reds offense?
The Cincinnati Reds have slightly improved their offensive standing but remain among baseball's worst-hitting teams. While their team slugging percentage of .397 ranks 21st, their batting average of .230 and on-base percentage of .308 both rank last in MLB, with their wRC+ of 92 placing them ahead of only Colorado. The team's offense is heavily dependent on Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suarez, and Sal Stewart, while three other regular players—Ke'Bryan Hayes, TJ Friedl, and Noelvi Marte—rank among the four worst hitters in baseball among those with at least 200 plate appearances.
Red ReporterCRISIS: Cincinnati Reds Playoff Math ENDS HOPE as Nick Krall’s STRATEGY BACKFIRES
The Cincinnati Reds face playoff elimination with their postseason hopes nearly extinguished, prompting hosts to scrutinize general manager Nick Krall's roster decisions and manager Terry Francona's lineup construction. They argue the team should promote young players like Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo instead of continuing to rely on underperforming veterans, while also questioning the usage patterns of pitchers Andrew Abbott and Chase Burns. The episode concludes with a debate over the future roles of Matt McLain, Ke'Bryan Hayes, and TJ Friedl in Cincinnati's organization.
Locked On RedsReds got Carlos Jorge's position change right and should take note
Carlos Jorge, a 22-year-old rookie outfielder called up this month, made a spectacular leaping catch against the wall during Cincinnati's 14-1 loss to the Dodgers. Originally a second baseman in the Reds farm system, the organization moved him to center field in 2023 while he was at their High-A affiliate, giving him over 250 games and 2,000 innings to develop at the position. The article questions why the Reds didn't apply the same patient, developmental approach to other prospects like Nick Senzel, Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, and Sal Stewart, who were rushed into new positions without adequate minor league preparation and subsequently struggled.
Blog Red MachineKetel Marte drama is a reminder of Reds' ongoing (but different) roster headache
The Arizona Diamondbacks' ongoing issues with All-Star Ketel Marte—who went AWOL in August and was later spotted at a casino while on the injured list—highlight a roster problem the Cincinnati Reds narrowly avoided when trade rumors linking him to the team failed to materialize. Marte has a history of off-field distractions and now possesses 10-5 trade rights that give him veto power, leaving Arizona unable to move him at fair market value despite wanting to trade him. The Reds face a different but comparable challenge with pitcher Hunter Greene, whose injury history and elbow surgery make him difficult to trade despite the team's apparent desire to move him and shed his $15.3 million salary. Both teams are stuck with talented players whose circumstances prevent them from receiving adequate return value in trades.
Blog Red MachineReds may be watching another future building block emerge at just the right time
The Cincinnati Reds made their Major League debut for 22-year-old right fielder Héctor Rodríguez after trading Nathaniel Lowe before the August 3 deadline. After a rough start of 2-for-27 in his first nine games, Rodríguez has heated up significantly since recording his first RBI on August 17, going 12-for-37 with four home runs and a 1.066 OPS. His recent performance suggests he is adjusting to the majors and may have already surpassed fellow prospect Noelvi Marte as the team's right field option going forward.
Blog Red MachineNick Krall's problems go back to Reds' disastrous 2022 trade deadline
The Cincinnati Reds' current struggles under President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall trace back to the 2022 trade deadline, when the team sold off veterans like Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle while 42-61. The prospects acquired in return—including Edwin Arroyo, Noelvi Marte, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand—largely failed to develop as hoped, with only Spencer Steer becoming a reliable contributor. As a budget-constrained franchise, the Reds needed a strong homegrown core to compete, but the failed 2022 deadline acquisitions forced Krall to make inefficient spending decisions that have hampered the team's ability to build around young stars like Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart.
Blog Red MachineTerry Francona's brutally honest Noelvi Marte assessment changes Reds' long-term plans
The Cincinnati Reds demoted 24-year-old outfielder Noelvi Marte to Triple-A after he batted .189 with a 44 wRC+ in 63 games this season, a dramatic collapse from his strong performance last August. Manager Terry Francona described Marte as "a broken player right now" and emphasized that merely succeeding in the minors won't be enough to earn him another chance. Marte was previously demoted in April but had returned to the majors, only to hit .133 with a minus-29 wRC+ in 10 games this month. Francona's comments suggest the team has lost confidence in Marte's ability to translate his talent to the major league level.
Blog Red Machine