Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte Overwhelmed by Support After Fan’s Cruel Remarks on Late Mother

In a heartwarming display of solidarity, the sports world has come together to support Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte after a fan’s vile remarks about his late mother left him in tears during a game against the Chicago White Sox. The incident occurred during the Diamondbacks’ 4-1 victory at Rate Field on Tuesday, casting a shadow over an otherwise triumphant moment for the team.

The offending fan was swiftly ejected from the stadium and has been banned indefinitely from all MLB ballparks, a decision that sends a clear message: there’s no room for cruelty in baseball. Marte, visibly shaken by the derogatory comments about his mother, Elpidia Valdez, who tragically passed away in a car crash in 2017 in the Dominican Republic, received an outpouring of support in the aftermath.

On Wednesday, during the next game in the series, the White Sox organization took a stand, displaying a touching message on their scoreboard during Marte’s first at-bat: 'Baseball is Family: The White Sox community supports Ketel Marte.' This gesture, along with supportive posts from MLB’s official social media and heartfelt messages from fans and fellow athletes, underscored the tight-knit nature of the baseball community.

Among those reaching out was New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, who understands Marte’s pain all too well, having lost his own mother to COVID-19 complications in 2020. The empathy and camaraderie shown by Towns and countless others on social media highlight the human side of sports—a reminder that athletes carry personal burdens beneath the jerseys.

Though the Diamondbacks couldn’t complete the sweep, falling 7-3 to the White Sox on Wednesday with Marte going 0-4 at the plate, his season stats remain stellar. With a .313 batting average, 15 home runs, and 32 RBI in 54 games, the two-time All-Star continues to be a cornerstone for Arizona. The team (41-39) now looks ahead to a home series against the Miami Marlins starting Friday, with Marte undoubtedly carrying the love and support of a united baseball family into the next game.