Bogota’s Jose Marte pitches to Garfield on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in Garfield. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)
Story by Greg Tartaglia / Record Sports
Jose Marte has come to understand many new things during his year-and-a-half in the United States.
Sometimes, though, the NJSIAA pitch-count rule leaves the Bogota High School senior scratching his head.
Growing up playing baseball in the Dominican Republic, Marte got used to pitching until the game was over. Since moving to New Jersey midway through his junior year, the right-hander has been asked to leave the mound in three starts after reaching the state’s 110-pitch limit.
“They never told me that in the D.R.,” he said Thursday.
One day earlier, he had come within one out of tossing a complete game at Garfield before the rule resulted in his moving to center field with the Bucs leading, 5-2. The Boilermakers rallied to force extra innings and scored two in the bottom of the seventh to walk off as a 7-6 winner.
“I felt so angry, and I think that it’s not fair,” Marte said, “but I know that they just want to save the [pitchers’] arms and not let them get injured. So, I agree with that.”
Bogota agrees that the 5-foot-11, 160-pounder gives it a chance to beat just about anybody, even as a Group 1 school. Through his first 17 innings pitched this season, Marte posted a 0.82 ERA, allowed just 10 hits and four walks and struck out 27.
“Whenever he pitches, you know you’re going to compete with whatever team you have to compete with,” junior catcher Carlos Cabrera said.
Improved command
Marte began playing baseball at age 4. He came to America with his father and two brothers because “his dad was just looking for better opportunities here,” Bogota coach Dan Limone said.
One that presented itself to Jose was the chance to join the Willis Otañez Baseball Academy in Union City. There, he has been able to hone a pitching arsenal that features a high-80s fastball, cutter, curveball and changeup.
“In the summer, I practiced with [Otañez] Monday through Thursday,” Marte said. “And he has me practice like a professional player … I’m throwing faster than last year.”
“You could tell right away he was a good ballplayer,” said Limone, who added that “he’s touched 90 this year” on the radar gun when throwing indoors.
At the same time, Marte’s command of the English language has improved. Limone needed to translate a few interview questions for him, but he and his teammates have little trouble communicating. It helps, Limone pointed out, that a large portion of Bogota’s population has Dominican heritage.
“Getting more comfortable with the language, getting comfortable with his teammates, I could really see him progress,” Limone said. “Like last year, sometimes, he would be a little wild. This year, he seems to be in good command of the strike zone.”
High hopes
In his most challenging start of the first month, Marte threw a two-hitter in a rain-shortened, five-inning win over a Waldwick team ranked in the North Jersey Top 25. He also tripled and walked twice in that game, coming home to score all three times he was on base.
His batting average for the first seven games was hovering around .600, and when not on the mound, he is a versatile talent that Limone can use “pretty much anywhere. He does what you ask of him.”
The Garfield loss dropped the Bucs’ record to 3-4 and hurt their quest to qualify for their first Bergen County tournament since 2002. Since then, they have experienced one winning season (2015) and are 0-5 in the state playoffs. Marte has the ability to help the team end one or both of those streaks.
“He brings a lot of energy to the team,” Cabrera said. “He definitely gives us a lot of hope.”
With the help of Otañez, Marte has been recruited by Monroe College (N.Y.). Aside from the typical North Jersey hangouts (diners, malls, etc.), one of his favorite spots to visit is New York City.
“Here, I can go to places that I could never go before,” he said.
