The sports community rallied behind Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte after fans made insensitive remarks about his late mother during a game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, resulting in emotional reactions from Marte. Following the comments, which were directed toward his mother who passed away in a car accident in 2017, those responsible were promptly ejected from the game and banned from all MLB stadiums indefinitely, as confirmed by a source.
Marte, who is 31, visibly struggled with the harsh words. His mother, Elpidia Valdez, had been a significant presence in his life, and the comments struck a painful chord.
During the game, the White Sox displayed a supportive message on the scoreboard for Marte as he stepped up to bat. The message underscored the idea that “Baseball is family” and highlighted the community’s support for him. Additionally, the official MLB account on social media joined in expressing solidarity with Marte.
Star player Karl Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks also took to social media to show his support for Marte, sharing a bond over their similar experiences of losing their mothers.
Fans across social media platforms expressed their encouragement for Marte during this difficult time. While the Diamondbacks had started strong in the series, winning the first two games, they fell short against the White Sox with a final score of 7-3 in the game on Wednesday.
Despite going hitless in the game, Marte continues to excel this season, boasting a batting average of .313 with 15 home runs and 32 RBIs over 54 games. The Diamondbacks, now at 41-39, are set to face off against the Miami Marlins in their next series.
