During a game on Tuesday night, Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte became emotional after comments made by fans regarding his late mother.
Arizona’s manager, Torey Lovullo, addressed the situation following his team’s 4-1 win against the White Sox, indicating that fans made the offensive remarks during Marte’s seventh-inning at-bat.
Lovullo showed support by placing his arm around Marte while making pitching changes, and Marte continued to wipe away tears throughout the inning.
According to a Diamondbacks representative, the offending fans were removed from the game.
Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, tragically passed away in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017.
Lovullo confirmed he heard the comments while offering comfort to Marte, who has played under Lovullo for all nine seasons in Arizona.
Teammate Geraldo Perdomo criticized the fans’ behavior, stating, “That can’t happen. Everyone knows how Ketel is. He plays hard and has fun. I feel terrible about it.” He expressed hope that MLB would take appropriate actions against the offending individuals.
The incident occurred during Marte’s first season with the Diamondbacks, shortly after being traded from the Mariners. Marte’s emotional response was evident, and Lovullo remarked on the immediate impact of the comments on him.
Despite the incident, Marte had a notable performance, going 2-for-2 with a home run to contribute to the Diamondbacks’ record of 41-38.
