The sports community has rallied behind Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte after a fan’s cruel comments about his late mother brought the 31-year-old outfielder to tears during a game. The incident occurred during the team’s 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday, sparking an outpouring of support from fans and fellow athletes.
The fan, who made derogatory remarks about Marte’s late mother, Elpidia Valdez, who passed away in a car crash in the Dominican Republic in 2017, was immediately ejected from the game and subsequently banned from all Major League Baseball (MLB) ballparks indefinitely, as confirmed by a source. The backlash against the fan’s disrespectful behavior has led to swift consequences, highlighting the league’s commitment to upholding a respectful environment for players.
During the game, the White Sox showcased their support for Marte by displaying a heartfelt message on their scoreboard during his at-bat in the first inning. The message read, ‘Baseball is Family: The White Sox community supports Ketel Marte.’ Additionally, MLB’s official account on X also posted a message of solidarity, further amplifying the campaign of support for Marte.
Other athletes, including New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, who shares a personal connection due to losing his own mother, Jackie Cruz-Towns, to complications from COVID-19 in April 2020, have expressed their support for Marte on social media. Towns, like Marte, has experienced the profound impact of losing a parent, which has allowed him to empathize with the situation and offer his solidarity.
Despite the emotional incident, Marte continued to perform well in the game, though the Diamondbacks fell short of completing the sweep of the White Sox in the series. The White Sox secured a 7-3 victory on Wednesday, ending the four-game series. Marte, however, is still having an outstanding season, with a .313 batting average, 15 home runs, and 32 RBIs in 54 games. The Diamondbacks (41-39) will have an off day on Thursday before facing the Miami Marlins in a three-game series starting on Friday.
The incident has underscored the importance of respect and empathy in sports, while also demonstrating the strong bonds within the baseball community. The support for Marte has not only come from fans but also from fellow players, highlighting the unifying power of sports in times of adversity.