During the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 4-1 win against the Chicago White Sox, star second baseman Ketel Marte was visibly emotional following a cruel comment made by an opposing fan about his deceased mother. Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, tragically passed away in a car accident in the Dominican Republic back in 2017.
The incident triggered a wave of support for Marte, leading to indefinite bans for some fans from MLB ballparks. In an interview, Marte shared what the fan shouted, saying, “I texted your mom last night,” as he prepared to bat during the seventh inning. He mentioned that it was unsettling to hear such things, especially in light of his personal loss.
Marte described the experience as overwhelming, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable. MLB also responded, commending the White Sox for their prompt action in removing the offending fans.
In the game that followed, the White Sox displayed a supportive message on the scoreboard for Marte, reinforcing the idea that baseball is a family-oriented sport. Diamondbacks’ manager, Torey Lovullo, offered comfort to Marte as he dealt with the emotional aftermath, labeling the heckling as excessive and supporting his player publicly.
After the game, Marte’s teammate, Gerald Perdomo, called for stricter measures against fans who engage in hurtful taunting, asserting that this kind of behavior should not be tolerated in the league.
