Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte in Tears Over Fan’s Cruel Remark About Late Mother

In a heart-wrenching moment during the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, star second baseman Ketel Marte was brought to tears by a cruel remark from a fan about his late mother, Elpidia Valdez, who tragically passed away in a 2017 car accident in the Dominican Republic. The incident, which occurred during a seventh-inning pitching change, led to the fan being indefinitely banned from MLB ballparks.

Marte, a two-time All-Star, shared the painful details on the Danny Beisbol podcast, revealing the fan shouted, “I sent your mom a text last night,” a callous taunt that struck deep, especially as Marte was in Chicago when his mother’s accident occurred. “Fan behavior is getting out of hand,” Marte noted, his voice heavy with emotion.

The response from the baseball community was swift and supportive. The White Sox displayed a heartfelt message on their scoreboard the following game: “Baseball is Family: The White Sox community supports Ketel Marte.” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo comforted Marte on the field, later condemning the heckler as “an idiot” and lamenting the growing nastiness of some fans. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo echoed the sentiment, calling for such behavior to be eradicated from MLB.

MLB praised the White Sox’s quick action in ejecting the fan, and the outpouring of support for Marte underscored the sport’s sense of family. Despite the emotional toll, Marte continues to shine, boasting a .316 batting average, 14 home runs, and 31 RBIs in 52 games this season.