Mets' Starling Marte has big day at Plate in Return to Grapefruit League Play

Starling Marte returned to game action on Friday and made his presence felt at the plate.

He's baaaack. 

Mets right fielder Starling Marte made his Grapefruit League debut on Friday against the Houston Astros and looks like he hasn't missed a beat. 

In his first at-bat, Marte lined a double down the left field line that went all the way into the corner.

But Marte wasn't finished showing his bat is ready. In the bottom of the third inning, Marte launched a two-run home run over the wall in left center to increase the Mets' lead to 5-1. 

Marte underwent double groin surgery in the offseason to repair a torn core muscle. For that reason, the Mets have been easing him into his workload in Spring Training in order to prepare him for Opening Day.

After his first game of the spring, Marte said he feels good, but admitted that he is still not at 100 percent.

"I feel good, but I'm not at 100% right now," Marte said through team interpreter Alan Suriel. "You guys saw me in those four innings; I was able to run a bit, but we're advancing day-by-day."

While Marte is not 100 percent at the moment, he believes he will be by Opening Day on March 30.

"I think for Opening Day I'll be at 100 percent," Marte said. "Now that I actually started playing I know that I'm starting to ramp up. It's slow, but as my body gets stronger in the next couple weeks I should be ready."

If Marte has to miss time in the beginning of the season, this would move Mark Canha to right field and thrust Tommy Pham into the starting lineup in left field. Luckily, it does not sound like that will be necessary as Marte starts to ramp up with just under three weeks until the regular season. 

Not only is Marte a mainstay in right, he has become a fixture in the No. 2 hole in the Mets' lineup. Marte missed most of September with a fractured middle finger last season and the Mets missed his bat on offense while he was out. They're hoping he will not have to miss time to start the season, but it appears he is on track to be ready for Opening Day.

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