Ketel Marte did little Monday to repair his reputation among fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Marte was reinstated to the D-Backs’ lineup for the team’s series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. But before he suited up for the action on the field, Marte addressed the media about his lengthy absence from the team.
The Dominican failed to show up for Arizona’s Aug. 17 contest against the Boston Red Sox, prompting the D-Backs to place him on the restricted list. The Diamondbacks later placed Marte on the injured list due to a lingering knee issue. Days later, Marte was spotted gambling at a casino while his teammates were playing against the Cincinnati Reds.
On Monday, Marte apologized to manager Torey Lovulo for the insubordination. But he did not express any regret to the Diamondbacks’ fan base. When asked if he had a message for the fans, Marte shook his head, relaying to his translator that he was unwilling to give one.
When asked if he had a message for Arizona Diamondbacks fans, Ketel Marte was silent and shook his head no. pic.twitter.com/nZFsiJbUvm
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 31, 2026
Diamondbacks fans were not happy about Marte’s refusal to address them. Many took to social media to slam Marte for not having the courtesy to apologize.
Wow. I want the Diamondbacks to win therefore I want him to do well even though I do want them to move him in the offseason. But come on can't we all at least agree that he owes an apology to the fans too? Do we need to be split on that? https://t.co/UWXJtjHPbw
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) August 31, 2026
He doesn’t owe the fans anything but his lack of awareness about how it looks to not even pretend to apologize for the chaos he has caused says a lot about him.
— Rockford Peach (@Ms_Historian) September 1, 2026
🖕him! I won’t go to another game and pay a cent until this little baby is off the roster.
— Jason G (@jgutzgb) September 1, 2026
His silence when asked if he had a message for the fans speaks volumes! Shame on the DBacks for letting this go on for three years. Good luck trading him now.
— James Jones (@JamesJo94477789) August 31, 2026
It’s the fourth season in a row that Marte has gone AWOL on the team and its fans. Diamondbacks fans may have fairly questioned the sincerity of any apology given. But it would still have been a nice gesture from Marte, whom the D-Backs need to come up big as the team fights for an NL Wild Card spot.
Marte, who is in his 10th season with Arizona, has been one of the most productive hitters in Diamondbacks history. After a decade of All-Star-level output on the field, Marte and the D-Backs may be headed for a messy divorce in the offseason.
