The Reds have really missed Noelvi Marte’s bat this season.

By Drew Koch | 8:00 AM EDT

Cincinnati Reds infielder Noelvi Marte / Aaron Doster/GettyImages

While injuries have defined the Cincinnati Reds 2024 season thus far, there’s also a key player who’s missing in action due to an 80-game suspension. Major League Baseball blindsided the Reds fanbase earlier this spring when it was announced that Noelvi Marte would miss the first 80 games of the 2024 season after violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs policy.

Marte was supposed to be the Reds Opening Day third baseman. Instead, Cincinnati has been forced to try a myriad of options at the hot corner, including Jeimer Candelario and Santiago Espinal. With the first two months of the 2024 season nearly behind us, when will Marte be eligible to return to the Reds roster?

When can Reds’ Noelvi Marte return from 80-game PED suspension?

Marte’s suspension will expire after the Reds play their 80th game of the 2024 schedule. If all goes according to plan and there are not postponements between now and the Reds’ 80th game of the season, Marte can return to the active roster as soon as June 27th against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Marte will need a tuneup and recently reported to the Reds facility in the Dominican Republic. Marte had been at the Reds’ spring training facility in Arizona and is expected to return to the United States sometime next month to begin a rehab assignment with one of Cincinnati’s minor league affiliates.

Can Reds’ Noelvi Marte play in the 2024 MLB Playoffs?

Aside from the obvious loss to start the 2024 season, Marte will also be ineligible to participate in the postseason as well. While many Reds fans are laughing at the thought of this year’s ball club even sniffing a .500 record, Cincinnati begins only their second series against an NL Central opponent today when they battle the Cardinals.

Marte is paying the penalty for his poor judgment. Though one player is unlikely to help stem the tide of the Reds’ recent string of losses, Marte’s 16-game hitting streak to end the 2023 season certainly shows what he’s capable of. The Reds have missed Marte’s bat, and will be without it for about another month.