PHOENIX — Ketel Marte is experiencing one of the top seasons of his career on the diamond.
However, that hasn’t shielded him from significant criticism away from it.
The All-Star second baseman expressed remorse through an interpreter on Monday for missing three games after the All-Star break, having returned to his home in the Dominican Republic — a matter that has seemingly been brewing in the clubhouse over the last month.
The 31-year-old mentioned that he had originally planned to come back to Phoenix right after the break but felt «frustrated» and «in a tough position» upon discovering that his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, had been broken into during the interval, according to the interpreter.
The D-backs were engaged in a pivotal series of games — battling for playoff positioning ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Arizona placed Marte on the restricted list for the initial two games of his absence, and then he did not participate in a third game upon rejoining the club.
Addressing the backlash regarding his frequency of absences, Marte indicated he has been grappling with injury challenges and is adhering to a regimen established by the training staff. This year, Marte has missed 33 games, predominantly due to a hamstring injury.
«I understand there’s an elephant in the room, and I’ll just express what I need to about it,» D-backs manager Torey Lovullo stated. «I know that Ketel spoke with you all, and I’m proud of him for doing so. That’s not an easy step for him. He showed some vulnerability, and I’m very proud of him for his perseverance.»
«What I will say about Ketel are the aspects that I know — he’s a fantastic teammate, a great young man who gives his all every day for the Arizona Diamondbacks. All he desires is to win baseball games. That’s all.»
Marte has faced a deluge of criticism following a report in the Arizona Republic last week, which claimed some teammates were displeased with the second baseman’s conduct over the previous month and that his absence after the All-Star break may have contributed to the team’s downturn ahead of the trade deadline.
The D-backs entered the season with lofty aspirations but currently stand at 60-66.
Arizona won the three games Marte missed after the All-Star break — sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals — but then faltered with nine losses in 10 games following his return to the lineup.
This impacted the organization’s strategy at the trade deadline. The Diamondbacks traded third baseman Eugenio Suárez and first baseman Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners in separate transactions, outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Kansas City Royals, and right-hander Merrill Kelly to the Texas Rangers.
Marte is enjoying an outstanding offensive season overall, entering Monday with a batting average of .297, alongside 23 home runs and 56 RBIs. The three-time All-Star has been part of the organization since 2017 and was instrumental in the team’s surprise run to the World Series in 2023.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
