Noelvi Marte has only played the outfield for two months, yet he made the biggest play of the Cincinnati Reds‘ season in right field Thursday.
Marte went over the wall to rob Bryan Reynolds of a game-tying home run in the Reds‘ 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates that kept Cincinnati very much alive in the hunt for the third and final NL playoff spot.
Marte has played just 50 major-league games in the outfield over his three-season career, all this season with the Reds. Cincinnati moved him from third base to the outfield in July to make space for Ke’Bryan Hayes, who the Reds acquired from the Pirates at the trade deadline.
Cincinnati trails the New York Mets by a half-game with three games left.
Marte’s Play ‘Might Have Saved Reds’ Season’
Playing their last regular-season home game of 2025, the Reds were trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the last-place Pirates and stay in the hunt before going to Milwaukee this weekend.
Clinging to a 2-1 lead with one out in the ninth, Reds closer Emilio Pagan served up a 3-0 fastball that Reynolds launched 348 feet.
Yet, Marte went back to the wall, skied in the air and came down with the ball for a stunning grab — it would have been a home run at seven other major-league ballparks.
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“This is one of the best plays I ever made,” Marte told FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati through an interpreter. “I never think I’ve done something better than this.”
Pagan, who locked down his career-best 30th save of 2025, was expecting Reynolds to swing on the get-me-over 3-0 pitch but was excited that Marte came down with the ball.
“That was awesome,” Pagan said. “Everybody knows this is a good place to hit a flyball to right field. I didn’t think he hit it that great, but I think it had a shot [to go into the stands].”
Marte also drove in a run then scored the eventual game-winner on Gavin Lux’s fifth-inning RBI single that made it 2-0. Nick Lodolo, three relievers and Marte helped make it all stand for Cincinnati’s 81st win of the season.
“I think my heart stopped for a second,” Lux told FanDuel Sports Network. “I wasn’t sure if he caught it initially, but then his reaction and getting fired up [confirmed it]. That’s about a big of a play as you can get. That might have saved our season.”
Reds Proud That Marte’s Hard Work Paid Off
Lux noted Marte’s tough play, particularly since it was proof of his hard work learning a new position.
“That’s a tough catch for any outfielder much less a guy that’s only been out there for two months,” Lux said. “He’s been working really hard out there, and it paid off right there, and I’m happy for him. That was huge.”
Just one pitch after robbing Reynolds, Marte ran to his left and took a hit away from Andrew McCutchen to end the game. Marte has been a neutral fielder in more than 400 innings in right field, a function of his athleticism and hard work.
“Noelvi’s worked so hard out there,” Pagan said. “He’s come up so huge for us all year, and he did it for us again today.”
Noelvi Marte Saves Reds’ Season With Jaw-Dropping Catch In Ninth Inning Of Win