Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte returned to the lineup and was reinstated from the restricted list ahead of a series against the Philadelphia Phillies, addressing an unexplained two-week absence and his fourth consecutive season missing a game without team permission.
Ketel Marte is back in the Arizona Diamondbacks clubhouse, stepping directly into the cleanup spot as the designated hitter. His reinstatement ends a turbulent two-week saga that left his team in the dark during a tight National League Wild Card race.
The Diamondbacks held a half-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot, boasting a 73-65 record. While the club went 7-6 in his absence, getting a player of Marte’s caliber back on the field is vital for their playoff push, even as questions linger about his pattern of unexcused absences.
Ketel Marte Explains Absence and Addresses Teammates
Speaking to reporters in Spanish through an interpreter, Marte offered his perspective on the events that began when he walked away from the team in Boston on August 17 without authorization. His sudden departure triggered an initial stint on the restricted list before the team later transitioned him to the injured list with left knee inflammation.
“It was a moment of frustration. I’m the type of person that when something is going on in my life, I don’t like to talk about it. That morning I woke up, my body was in pain and I couldn’t react. No one made the decision for me, I’m the one that made the decision not to show up.”
Photo: Arizonasports
Ketel Marte, via mlb.com
Prior to speaking publicly, Marte met privately with manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen at Salt River Fields to apologize. He also planned to address his teammates directly as a group after previously speaking with only a few players individually over the preceding week.
“I’m going to stand in front of my teammates like a man. I don’t want any of my teammates to go through what I went through that morning. I love my teammates. I understand their frustration. I understand the most important thing right now is that I’m doing well and my family is doing well, as well.”
The situation has reignited debate over team discipline, particularly after Lovullo revealed to reporters that this marks the fourth consecutive season Marte has missed a game without team permission. Last year, reports surfaced that some teammates were frustrated when Marte left for the Dominican Republic around the All-Star break.
Despite external pressure from fans and media to take a harder disciplinary line, Lovullo defended his handling of the infielder, explaining that heavy-handed tactics tend to make Marte retreat further.
“He’s definitely a retreater when things are on his mind, some things I cause when I crash down on him. I know you guys want me to sometimes bury him and make him feel even worse than he already does. He doesn’t respond to that. But I feel like it’s my job to do that sometimes. When I do it, he retreats. When something doesn’t go well, he retreats. I just want everybody to be patient with him, care for him and support him because he feels the energy from people.”
Inside the clubhouse, infielder Nolan Arenado indicated that the team’s collective desire to reach the postseason outweighs lingering frustrations regarding Marte’s conduct.
Ketel Marte to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks
“I don’t have a whole lot to say on it, other than we’re going to welcome him, we’re going to try to win some ball games. I just think everybody’s focus should be on playing baseball. Whatever other stuff goes down, I don’t know, that should be dealt with after the season. For now, I think our focus should be on trying to get into a playoff spot and on baseball, period.”
Photo: mlb.com
Nolan Arenado, Diamondbacks infielder, via Mlbtraderumors
Social media controversy also surfaced during his absence when video clips showed Marte playing roulette at a Scottsdale casino while his teammates played a home game across town. When asked about the optics by reporters, Marte maintained that it occurred during his personal time while injured.
With his contract running through 2031 and full no-trade protection secured via ten-and-five rights, Marte remains central to Arizona’s long-term future. For now, the Diamondbacks open a critical series against the Philadelphia Phillies needing his bat—which features a .249 average and 21 home runs this season—to secure a National League playoff berth.
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