Ketel Marte Reduced to Tears After Disrespectful Comment About His Mother During Game
Arizona Diamondbacks’ second baseman Ketel Marte was brought to tears Tuesday night after a fan at Rate Field allegedly hurled cruel comments about his late mother during a critical moment in the game.
It happened in the bottom of the seventh inning. During a pitching change, Marte stood near the mound, visibly shaken and wiping away tears. Manager Torey Lovullo rushed over, wrapping his arm around Marte in a protective, almost father-like embrace. What should’ve been a routine break turned into a painful, public moment of grief.
Lovullo and bench coach Jeff Banister wasted no time — they immediately flagged the fan’s behavior. According to a team spokesperson, the fan was identified and removed from the stadium. Still, the emotional damage had already been done.
“He put his head down, and it was clear the words struck a chord with him,” Lovullo recalled. “Everybody knows Ketel lost his mom (in 2017). She meant everything to him.”
Geraldo Perdomo and Teammates Demand Action from Major League Baseball
While Marte chose not to speak to media after the game, his teammates were not about to stay quiet.
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo let it be known exactly how he felt about the situation — raw and unfiltered.
“That can’t happen,” he said. “Everybody knows how Ketel is. He’s fun. He plays the game hard. I feel bad for him. I feel mad about it. I hope MLB can take action against that guy. I don’t know who it was, but they need to be held accountable. We can’t keep allowing that (expletive) in MLB.”
Perdomo didn’t stop there: “He should be banned, for sure.”
The love for Marte was on full display. His teammates rallied behind him not just as a player, but as a man still hurting from a deep, personal loss. That loss dates back to 2017, when Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, tragically died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic — just moments after they spoke on the phone.
Torey Lovullo Reflects On Emotional Moment: “I Reacted Like A Dad”
Torey Lovullo wasn’t just a coach in that moment. He became family. When he walked up to the mound, he didn’t see an infielder — he saw a heartbroken son.
“I reacted like a dad would when I went to change pitchers. I could see he was sobbing. It hurt,” Lovullo said. “I told him, ‘I love you and I’m with you, we’re all together, and you’re not alone. No matter what was said or who said it, that guy is an idiot. It shouldn’t impact you.’”
Lovullo admitted he heard the fan’s vile comment and immediately turned his attention to Marte. His protective instincts kicked in.
This moment, though tragic, highlighted something powerful — a team unified not just in the game but in humanity. Baseball became secondary. Real life was front and center.