LOS ANGELES When Mike Hazen took over as the D-backs' basic manager in October 2016, one of the very first gamers he got was Ketel Marte, whom he netted as component of a five-player handle the finished up reaching the postseason in Hazen's first year at the helm, with a 23-year-old Marte acting as the club's shortstop during its National Organization Division Collection competition with the Dodgers in 2017. With both division rivals established for an NLDS rematch that starts on Saturday at Dodger Arena, Hazen took a chance to review exactly how far Marte has actually come the years. Currently in his seventh season with the D-backs, Marte has become a key driver for Arizona, creating a dynamic 1-2 strike atop the schedule in addition to presumptive NL Novice of the Year Corbin duo combined to go 6-for-15 with 5 RBIs during the D-backs' two-game sweep of the Makers in the NL Wild Card Collection, launching back-to-back homers to eliminate a very early three-run shortage in Video game 1 at American Family members has actually deservedly commanded the spotlight for Arizona thus far, yet Marte has flown more under the radar, silently recoiling from a down 2022 campaign and re-establishing himself as the foundation gamer Hazen pictured when he traded for him 7 years back. Model of uniformity Kelly anxious for Game 1 begin vs. bane LA" At the time, we thought we were getting an actually great hitter," Hazen stated on Friday. "A young, sports kid that was going to play shortstop for us. We've watched him grow and mature right into a middle-of-the-order player and our second baseman. " You can see, at the top of the schedule with Corbin and Ketel, what they performed in that Milwaukee collection is what we can doing offensively. We're hopeful that's going to proceed currently right into the rest of the postseason. " Marte, now 29, saw his production dip as he battled hamstring issues and other injuries in the last few years. He worked on boosting his flexibility this past the offseason and took care of to remain healthy in 2023. The switch-hitting infielder batted. 276 with an. 843 OPS, 25 home runs and 82 RBIs over 150 regular-season games, his most considering that 2018. " He had some very lean years due to the fact that of his health and wellness," supervisor Torey Lovullo said. "He been healthy and balanced most of this year. Ive asked him to go out there, and he hasn't been 100 percent. And these guys never ever understood it. He never appeared in such a way that he wasnt giving you everything that he had. " To me, that the utmost type of rival that he is because he going to provide you all that he carries that offered day. " After viewing the D-backs go through a rebuild that caused 110 losses 2 years ago, Marte is delighting in the chance to return to the playoffs and attempt to reverse Arizona's woes versus the Dodgers, who won eight of the 13 matches in between the clubs throughout the regular period. Theyre going to need to beat us: D-backs aim to flip script vs. LA" It's an amazing sensation," Marte stated in Spanish. "Playing the Dodgers throughout the routine season is interesting, so imagine what it will certainly resemble throughout the playoffs. It's going to be fun. " We've been working truly difficult and truly pushing ourselves. The front office has actually made some excellent steps, and we've called up a great deal of young players that have helped us. I think it's time to win. We have an excellent group, and we're really united. " Besides his production, Lovullo said Marte brings a level of confidence that assists energize his colleagues and create favorable vibes throughout the clubhouse Fans Personalized. " There absolutely a swagger that he has fun with, an arrogance, an extremely modest cockiness it not outside; he does not show anybody up," Lovullo said. "Yet there a very strong, favorable visibility that he walks about with no matter where he is. You can see him at the hotel. You see him on bases. You see him in the clubhouse. It simply that he is. " And I such as that. Im pretty boring and vanilla, so we require to spice it up a bit with some of his presence. Im all for it. " Dodgers-D-backs position-by-position breakdownMarte, for his component, certainly feels at home with the D-backs, that signed him to a five-year, $76 million expansion last spring. " I actually appreciate the trust they have in me, and the love and regard I obtain from the entire staff," Marte said. "I believe that's what's made me right into a terrific ballplayer and a terrific individual. It really feels actually great to be here. "