PHOENIX — Ketel Marte returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks lineup after a two-week absence, but his comeback was anything but warm.
The three-time All-Star was met with loud boos from sections of the home crowd at Chase Field on Monday as the Diamondbacks fell 2-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies, adding another dramatic chapter to a controversy that has followed the team into the heart of the postseason race.
Marte, 32, started as Arizona’s designated hitter and batted cleanup. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, but the result mattered less than the reception he received from the home fans.
The boos were particularly noticeable during his first at-bat. Later, however, Marte delivered a single in the eighth inning and received a more positive response.
“I felt a little strange in my first at-bat, but that’s hopefully going to go away,” Marte said through an interpreter.
What happened to Ketel Marte?
The controversy began on August 17, when Marte failed to report to the Diamondbacks’ game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park without notifying the organization.
The team initially placed him on the restricted list. He was later moved to the 10-day injured list after an MRI revealed inflammation in his left knee.
Marte subsequently acknowledged that he made the decision himself not to report to the ballpark.
“That morning I woke up, my body was in pain and I couldn’t react,” Marte said. “No one made the decision for me. I’m the one that made the decision not to show up.”
He specifically apologized to manager Torey Lovullo, saying he regretted failing to appear at the stadium.
According to MLB.com, Marte had previously left an August 14 game against Atlanta because of knee soreness and sat out the following day before returning briefly and traveling with the team to Boston.
Casino photos added fuel to the controversy
The situation became even more complicated when photos and videos circulated online showing Marte at a casino on August 21 while the Diamondbacks were playing the Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field.
Arizona Sports reported that Marte spent several hours at the casino. Other reports, including coverage from CBS Sports and The Arizona Republic, also documented the appearance.
Importantly, Marte was on the injured list at that point, meaning the casino appearance itself should not automatically be interpreted as a violation of baseball rules or evidence that he was medically cleared to play.
The controversy instead centered on how the situation looked publicly while the Diamondbacks were trying to navigate a crucial stretch of the season.
Marte apologizes to his teammates
Before Monday’s game, Marte met with the media and then addressed his teammates in the clubhouse.
He said his teammates accepted his apology.
“Thank God they accepted my apology,” Marte said, according to MLB.com.
Marte also emphasized that his priority now is helping Arizona and remaining healthy.
Manager Torey Lovullo has continued to defend his veteran second baseman, despite acknowledging that Marte’s actions in Boston damaged their relationship.
Lovullo described his relationship with Marte as having developed over roughly a decade and said Marte tends to withdraw when he is under pressure.
Rather than publicly attacking his player, Lovullo has asked fans and others around the organization to show patience.
Diamondbacks cannot afford a distraction
The timing of the controversy is significant.
Arizona is fighting for an NL Wild Card position, meaning every game carries increasing importance as September begins.
The Diamondbacks entered Monday within striking distance of the final National League playoff spot, but their 2-1 loss to Philadelphia, combined with San Diego’s victory, left Arizona a half-game behind the Padres for the final NL Wild Card position.
The Phillies, meanwhile, improved to 78-60 and remained tied with the Chicago Cubs for the top NL Wild Card position.
Philadelphia’s Bryson Stott provided the decisive blow with a massive home run, while Aaron Nola delivered five-plus strong innings. Bryce Harper also continued his remarkable run, extending his career-best on-base streak to 33 games.
Marte’s bat could still be crucial
Despite the controversy, there is little question that Arizona needs Marte’s production.
Before his return, Marte was hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs, numbers that make him one of the more important offensive pieces in the Diamondbacks’ lineup.
His return therefore presents Arizona with a difficult balancing act: the club needs his bat, but the organization also needs to move beyond the controversy quickly.
Monday’s game showed just how complicated that could be.
Marte was booed when he first stepped to the plate, yet by the end of the night he was one swing away from potentially becoming the hero.
With Arizona trailing 2-1 in the ninth inning, Ryan Waldschmidt and Corbin Carroll reached base, putting runners at the corners with one out. Marte was waiting on deck.
But Gabriel Moreno grounded out to end the game before Marte could get his chance.
A second chance — with little room for error
For now, Marte appears determined to move forward.
The Diamondbacks need him healthy. They need his offensive production. And, perhaps most importantly, they need the clubhouse to remain united during the final stretch of the season.
Whether fans are ready to forgive him is another question.
The boos at Chase Field made one thing clear: Marte’s return may have ended his absence from the lineup, but it has not ended the controversy.
And with Arizona’s postseason hopes hanging in the balance, every at-bat from here on out could become part of the story.
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