RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The jury's out on the mysterious absence of Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte from the team's game at the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 17. Diamondbacks fans and MLB media have mixed reactions on X, from genuine concern to outright frustration about the team's star second baseman missing in action.
The Republic's Nick Piecoro reported that Marte was a late scratch less than 15 minutes before the Diamondbacks' 11-1 loss in the opener of the teams' three-game series at Fenway Park.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after Monday's game that Marte didn't show up because of a "personal issue" and is on the restricted list. Lovullo was visibly emotional when he spoke to reporters about Marte's status. He claimed Marte's in good physical condition, but he simply didn't show up for the game and "there wasn't a lot coming back" from Marte for why he wasn't available.
Lovullo wasn't certain about Marte's whereabouts when he was asked in a postgame interview.
Lovullo, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen, their All-Star Corbin Caroll and Geraldo Perdomo didn't provide many details about Marte. That caused Phoenix fans and MLB media members to question Marte's relationship with the team.
I genuinely don’t understand how an organization doesn’t know where its star player, Ketel Marte, is. I pray everything is okay with Ketel, but he can’t send a text or make a phone call to the manager or GM to let them know what’s going on? None of this makes sense.
— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) August 18, 2026 On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Piecoro also reported that Marte returned to Phoenix for an MRI on his left knee. Marte injured his knee and left early during the Diamondbacks' 2-0 win at the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 14.
Phoenix's NBC TV affiliate KPNX 12 News Sports reporter Cameron Cox called out how Marte needed to return to Phoenix for the MRI, rather than having it done in Boston like Marte's teammate, Nolan Arenado.
After breakfast thought on this— Nolan Arenado was able to get an MRI on the road in Boston… and now Ketel Marte has to go back to AZ? 🤔 https://t.co/jdXXq2VlEi
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) August 18, 2026 This isn't the first time that Marte's staged confusing moments about his inner drive to play.
Cox's former 12 News Sports colleague Jake Garcia and USA Today Sports MLB columnist Bob Nightengale said that the Diamondbacks missed the boat on trading Marte before the Aug. 3 deadline.
The Boston Red Sox were one of the teams who made a strong effort to acquire Ketel Marte during the winter. Now they’re seeing why the Dbacks were motivated to trade him.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 18, 2026 Thought he was physically fine? I’m trying to be patient but I’m so over the Ketel Marte experience and it’s clear the DBacks missed the boat to ship him away. https://t.co/luI5efxWhY
— Benjamin Garcia (@BenGarciaShow) August 18, 2026 Arizona Sports 98.7 FM's John Gambodoro posted that Marte was "seen at a team hotel bar with a group of people" after the game, calling the situation "bizarre."
From what I can gather Ketel Marte was seen at the team hotel bar with a group of people around 11 pm last night. So definitely was seen at the hotel late last night. I have covered sports in this market for 30 years- not sure I have seen anything quite as bizarre as this. Even…
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) August 18, 2026 Then on Tuesday, Marte posted on his Instagram story a one-minute video with a religious speech from former Detroit Tigers pitcher-turned-motivational speaker Sandy Baez, all in Spanish.
Ketel Marte has just reposted this video from former Tigers pitcher turned motivational speaker Sandy Baez on his Instagram. Baez has also tagged Eugenio Suarez, Geraldo Perdomo and others in his speech video from today. #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/hLY74uL5e6
— Augie Walters (@augiewalters13) August 18, 2026 The Diamondbacks are in the playoff hunt, battling the San Diego Padres and others for a wild-card spot.
Here's what fans have said about Marte's latest quagmire.
im very disapointed with how ive seen the diamondbacks fanbase react to the ketel marte stuff. There is clearly something going on that is bigger than baseball and this fanbase clearly lacks empathy.
— SnakesNSwallows (@SnakesNSwallows) August 18, 2026 I just saw Ketel Marte renting a car at the Boston airport. pic.twitter.com/vtTGHZBfBt
— Illegal Rib Dealer (@tubingtyler1) August 18, 2026 Ketel Marte is ruining baseball https://t.co/GT5dh1ZPFj
— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) August 18, 2026 You have to wonder if Ketel Marte is alright beyond baseball and as a person. This isn’t normal behavior once let alone multiple times.
— Espo (@Espo) August 18, 2026 Ketel Marte just posted a clip to his Instagram 12 mins ago. Talks about how growth is the result of a life filled with obedience. Basic message: thou shall obey. Hoping that means he plans to obey Torey and show up today...
— Neil Kucera (@NWKMF) August 18, 2026 Ketel Marte has received 10 years of mentorship from Torey Lovullo. So of course that mentorship has led to Ketel having an awful relationship w/ the team and massive character issues. The pro Torey crowd hyped up his clubhouse leadership & culture, until there a problem then it… https://t.co/blPehf2hBC
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) August 18, 2026 2 Corinthians 4:9 ESV [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; Ketel Marte put this on his IG story today. The passage comes from the "Treasures in Jars of Clay" metaphor, which contrasts the immense value of God's message and the weakness/limitations of…
— Arizona Snakes (@ArizonaSnakes) August 18, 2026 I told y’all 3 years ago Ketel Marte was a locker room cancer. He’s a selfish narcissistic prima donna. They can’t trade him because he’s so toxic, nobody wants him infecting thei...
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