Mets OF Starling Marte has surgery to repair a core muscle

NEW YORK --New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte had surgery to repair a core muscle injury that hampered him during the season's second half.

The Mets said Thursday that the operation took place Tuesday and the typical recovery time is eight weeks. That timetable would allow the 34-year-old to start spring training with no restrictions in mid-February.

In the first season of a $78 million, four-year contract, Marte hit .292 with 16 homers, 63 RBI and 18 stolen bases. His right middle finger was broken Sept. 6 when it was hit by a 96 mph fastball from Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller.

Marte returned for the NL Wild Card Series loss to San Diego from Oct. 7-9. Marte went 2 for 12 with a pair of singles, a walk and no RBI against the Padres.

He was an All-Star in 2016 with Pittsburgh and has a .290 career average with 142 homers, 565 RBI and 314 steals in 11 seasons with the Pirates (2012-19), Arizona (2020), Miami (2021), Oakland (2021) and the Mets.