Noelvi Marte makes comeback after 80-game PED suspension to support struggling Reds team in wild-card race

The Cincinnati Reds have announced the return of promising youngster Noelvi Marte from suspension. Marte was banned for 80 games at the start of the season for violating the league’s Joint Drug Agreement after testing positive for Boldenone, a banned performance-enhancing substance. The Reds officially reinstated him on Thursday. Marte, 22, had an impressive debut last season, hitting .316/.366/.456 with seven doubles, three homers, 15 RBI, 15 runs, and 0.8 WAR in 35 games. He was ranked as the No. 1 prospect for the Reds and 14th overall in baseball by CBS Sports prospect guru R.J. Anderson.

Despite Marte’s struggles during his rehab stint with Triple-A Louisville, the Reds are hopeful that his return to the majors will help ignite his potential as a high-upside third baseman. Currently standing at 37-43, the Reds are 4.5 games behind the final wild-card spot, which is considered a manageable deficit. While Jeimer Candelario has been playing third base for most of the season, his performance has been lackluster, as the Reds’ designated hitters have struggled to produce at the plate. The team is counting on Marte’s return to boost the offensive production.

After a disappointing 2022 season, the Reds showed promise in 2023 but faced setbacks with injuries to key players like Matt McLain and TJ Friedl during spring training, in addition to Marte’s suspension. With Friedl playing in only 26 games before getting injured again and zero contributions from McLain and Marte, the Reds have struggled offensively. Currently ranking 10th in the NL in runs, 11th in OPS, and last in batting average, the return of Marte is expected to provide a much-needed lift to the team’s offensive output.