Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was visibly distraught and broke down in tears on the field during a game this week after a fan directed cruel and derogatory comments at him regarding his deceased mother. The deeply personal attack during Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox highlighted the emotional toll such behavior can take on players and prompted swift action from the team and league.
Incident Shocks Players and Staff
The upsetting incident occurred at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago on June 24th. While Marte was at bat in the top of the seventh inning, a fan seated in the stands reportedly yelled highly inappropriate remarks targeting Marte’s late mother. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo heard the comment and immediately observed the negative impact it had on Marte, noting the player looked directly at the fan before putting his head down.
Marte’s emotional reaction became profoundly evident during a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lovullo approached Marte near the mound, offering comfort and support as the star infielder was seen repeatedly wiping tears from his eyes and visibly sobbing.
Manager and Teammates React Strongly
Manager Torey Lovullo later described reacting “as a dad would” upon seeing Marte’s distress. He put an arm around Marte, offering words of love and solidarity. Lovullo recalled telling Marte, “I love you and I’m with you and we’re all together and you’re not alone. No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you heard, that guy is an idiot. It shouldn’t have an impact on you.” Lovullo chose not to repeat the specific comments made by the fan.
Marte’s teammates were equally angered by the fan’s behavior. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo expressed his feelings powerfully, stating he felt both bad and mad for Marte, who he described as a fun player who plays hard. Perdomo delivered an expletive-laden rant, declaring that such behavior “can’t happen” in Major League Baseball. He strongly advocated for MLB to implement stricter measures to police fan conduct and called for the offending fan to be “banned, for sure.”
Fan Ejected and Banned
Following the fan’s comments, manager Torey Lovullo and bench coach Jeff Banister immediately alerted stadium personnel and requested the individual’s removal. According to a team spokesman, the fan was ejected from Guaranteed Rate Field during the game.
In a follow-up development, the Chicago White Sox announced on June 25th that the fan involved in the incident has been banned indefinitely from attending future games at Guaranteed Rate Field. Reports citing an ESPN source indicate that the fan later expressed remorse for his actions and admitted to making the inappropriate remarks.
The Painful Context: Loss of a Mother
The fan’s comments targeted a deeply personal and painful part of Ketel Marte’s life. His mother, Elpidia Valdez, tragically died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017, not long after Marte had spoken to her on the phone. Teammates like Geraldo Perdomo emphasized the profound loss for Marte, noting, “Everybody knows Ketel lost his mom (in 2017). She was the world to him.” The fan’s decision to target this specific tragedy was a cruel and hurtful attack.
Highlighting a Broader MLB Issue
This disturbing incident unfortunately highlights a concerning trend of inappropriate and abusive fan behavior occurring in Major League Baseball ballparks. It marks the latest in a series of occurrences this season where fans have crossed lines with personal attacks on players, including a similar incident in April where a Cleveland Guardians fan was ejected for directing inappropriate remarks at Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Despite the emotional distress caused by the fan’s comments, Ketel Marte remained in the game. He had a productive offensive night for the Diamondbacks, going 2-for-4 and hitting a home run in Arizona’s 4-1 victory over the White Sox. Marte himself declined to comment on the incident through a team spokesman following the game.
