Regression not a foregone conclusion for Starling Marte

I've been slow to come around on the Pirates' Starling Marte, as I am for any 24-year-old who strikes out four times as often as he walks, but considering he has maintained a batting average in the .320 range for a solid three weeks now, I'm forced to rethink my stance on him, especially since he produced a similar batting line with similarly poor plate discipline throughout his minor-league career.

Marte has a .418 BABIP, which is high by any standard, but high BABIPs seem to be the norm for him. In his most complete minor-league season, he had a .390 BABIP. He may not make contact often, but when he does, it's the best kind possible.

Whether you prefer to assess him on strikeout rate or BABIP, Marte is kind of an anomaly. And though freakish rates don't always translate from the minors to the majors, the lack of letup over the first month has me believing in Marte's track record enough to move him into the top 50 in my outfield rankings.