
#2 – Outfielder Starling Marte
Checking in as the second best Pirate of the decade is only current Pirate on the list – outfielder Starling Marte.
Marte made his MLB debut in July of 2012 in Houston against the Astros. On the first pitch he ever faced at the MLB level Marte hit a home run off of future Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel. This proved to be the start of a great MLB career.
Marte has spent the last eight seasons as a Pirate, winning two Gold Glove Awards and being named an All-Star in 2016. In his career he has slashed .287/.341/.452 with a 116 wRC+, 239 stolen bases and a 24.1 fWAR in 953 career games.
Since the start of the 2013 season, his first full MLB season, Marte ranks 15th among all NL position players with a 23.8 fWAR. While he often times receives a lot of unfair criticism from fans and the media alike, Marte has solidified himself as one of the best two-way players in the NL and one of the best in franchise history.
Odds are that Marte has played his last game as a Pirate. He remains under team control through 2021, but is likely going to be traded before Opening Day. If that does indeed happen, Marte should be remembered as one of the best Pirate players of the 2010s.