Marte was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 2005 at the age of 19. In 2006, he posted a 1.38 ERA while throwing 90 strikeouts in 60 innings for the Dominican Summer League Tigers.
In 2007, the Tigers promoted Marte to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Tigers, where he went 2–0 with a 0.75ERA in two starts. He was then moved to the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he posted a 2.83ERA working primarily out of the bullpen.
Marte pitched at three levels in 2008, compiling a 1.98 ERA in seven starts for the Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers. He was then promoted to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, where he compiled a 5.05 ERA in ten starts for the Seawolves. Meanwhile, Marte's strikeout rate per nine innings went from 9.0 in Lakeland to 5.1 in Erie.
In 2009 for Erie, Marte posted a 4.02 ERA in 105+1⁄3 innings; he logged a 5.06 ERA in 48 innings at the same level in 2010. Marte rebounded nicely pitching for the Seawolves again in 2011, compiling a 3-0 record with a 1.70 ERA in 53 innings primarily out of the bullpen. He was also able to improve his strikeout per nine ratio to an impressive 11.55.
Major Leagues
Marte was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on September 1, 2011. For the remainder of the season, he compiled a 1-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in 3+2⁄3 innings of relief for the Tigers.
Marte was invited to spring training with the Tigers in March 2012, where he compiled a 2-0 record and a 2.08 ERA in nine Grapefruit League appearances. As a result, he was named to the Major League roster on March 30, 2012. However, the following Tuesday, during the Tigers final Grapefruit League game, Marte suffered a hamstring injury and was forced to start the season on the disabled list.[1] Marte pitched in two rehab assignments before being activated off the 15-day DL on May 25; Luke Putkonen was optioned to Triple-A to make room.[2]
Marte made 13 appearances for Triple-A Toledo in 2013, but struggled to a 1-2 record and 9.00 ERA with two strikeouts over two innings of work. On June 4, 2013, Marte underwent season-ending surgery to repair a right shoulder injury.[3] On December 11, Marte was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Rajai Davis.[4] He cleared waivers on December 16 and was assigned to Toledo. Marte was released by the Tigers on March 12, 2014.
