Reds Get Marte Back From IL On July 4 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Noelvi Marte spent five years as a top-100 prospect in baseball. In 2025, the infielder was on the verge of breaking out before an oblique injury sent him to the injured list in early May.

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Almost two months later, he’s finally back, just in time for the Cincinnati Reds’ to make a run in the wild-card chase. The Reds activated the third baseman – and pitcher Graham Ashcraft – on Friday.

Cincinnati manager Terry Francona immediately put Marte back into the lineup in the July 4 afternoon game against the Philadelphia Phillies, incidentally the first team Francona managed at the major-league level.

Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Marte slashed .294/.342/.515 with three home runs 17 RBIs in 19 games before the injury. He had begun to take over as the Reds’ everyday third baseman, over then-starter Jeimer Candelario, who has since been released, when he went on the IL.

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Marte ranked as the No. 92, No. 73, No. 18, No. 63 and No. 23-ranked prospect each year by Baseball America from 2020 to 2024. From 2020-2022, Marte played in the Seattle Mariners organization. He was traded to the Reds with Edwin Arroyo, Andrew Moore and Levi Stoudt for right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo at the trade deadline in 2022.

The Reds entered Friday’s games at 45-42, seven games behind National League Central leader Chicago Cubs, but just 1 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres for the final wild-card spot.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.