SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Starling Marte ignited the burners and bolted from the batter’s box. As the baseball curled into the right-field corner at Estadio Quisqueya on Tuesday night, Marte placed his wager. He sped around first base and second, challenging the outfielder’s arm, and slid headfirst ahead of the third baseman’s tag. His helmet pinwheeled away in the dirt. Marte pointed into the grandstands, and the home crowd roared.
On this damp December night in Santo Domingo, his native city, Marte flashed major-league midseason form. He tripled and scored, singled and swiped second. Marte has invested two months of his offseason playing for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League, a circuit primarily packed with prospects and journeymen.