In an organization full of darkness and affiliates with under .500 records, one man has been the beacon of hope for the Seattle Mariners: Ketel Marte.

Marte, who was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, did not start his professional career as the great hitter he is today considering he hit .259 in two months of Rookie ball (2011) and .249 between Everett (Single-A Short Season) and Clinton (Single-A) in his first full season. Really, the only positive from his first two seasons was Seattle's number two prospect going 4-14 in a very brief cameo at Clinton. 

Fortunately, Marte only needed the small four game stretch in 2012 to turn his past struggles into success as he hit .295 the next year (with Single-A Clinton and Single-A Advanced High Desert) and .304 (with Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma) in 2014.

Yet neither campaign can compare to this year's as the twenty-one year old shortstop started the season with a .343 BA through the first two months. In fact, Marte not only had a .394 on-base percentage when May 31 arrived but a fifteen game hit streak to his name as well. Sadly, the news that came on June 1 brought everything to a screeching halt since the announcement was Marte had broke his finger and would be out for six weeks.

Besides the disappointment of a prospect getting hurt, Seattle fans were especially saddened because of the Rainier star being very close to earning a promotion to the Big Leagues. But in the end most things work out, including Ketel Marte missing an opportunity as yesterday the 2015 All-Star Futures Game starter was recalled from Tacoma after a .222 (14-63) mark since returning to Triple-A action on July 16.

As a matter of fact, the Seattle Mariners not only promoted Marte but had him batting lead-off for his Major League debut.

Initially, the starting second baseman looked like a "deer in headlights" when stepping into the Target Field batter's box for his first plate appearance, as he grounded out on the second pitch. Through the audience's eyes, he really did not settle down until his fourth at-bat as he worked the count prior to grounding out for the third time on the night. 

Luckily, the 2015 Pacific Coast League All-Star was able to end his first game on a high note by drawing a walk and scoring a run to increase the Mariners' lead to five in route to a 6-2 victory.

Despite Ketel Marte going hitless on July 31, he will have another chance to collect his first Major League hit tonight against starter Kyle Gibson and the Minnesota Twins.