Ketel Marte breaks silence on Chicago White Sox fan heckling incident

Arguably the biggest story in baseball over the last week has surrounded Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Ketel Marte. One Chicago White Sox fan crossed the line, leading to public outcry and a permanent punishment.

Marte was seen in tears on the field after a fan shouted something at him about his mother. His mother had previously passed away in a car crash in the Dominican Republic. That fan was ultimately ejected from the game and has been served a lifetime ban at all major league stadiums.

Now, Marte has shared his side of the story, via Danny Beisbol. He thanked all the fans that were concerned from him and revealed exactly why the taunt made him so emotional.

“Seventh inning, I come to bat, I hear this fan yelling at me, saying stuff about my mom,” Marte said. “He was like, ‘I sent your mom a text last night.’ When everything happened with my mom, I was here in Chicago. My manager had my back, the kicked the fan out.”

“Yes, I think something needs to be done about the fans. It’s getting out of hand. People always yell stuff at me, but never about my mom. People know that my mom passed away in an accident. But anyways, we’re praying for [the fan who yelled], and his family too. My God protect them and helps him heal his heart.”

“They’re always yelling things at me and I don’t mind. But when it comes to my mom, that’s where the line gets crossed,” Marte concluded.