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Diamondbacks fans let Ketel Marte know they're tired of drama
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Diamondbacks fans let Ketel Marte know they're tired of drama

By Kevin Henry  |  Last updated Sep 1, 2026 9:02 AM ET
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On Monday, Ketel Marte finally had a chance to tell his side of the story that has enveloped the Arizona Diamondbacks. He botched the opportunity, and Diamondbacks fans let him know it later that night.

With the Diamondbacks fighting for a National League wild-card spot, the spotlight hasn't been on the team's play in recent games but rather on the status of Marte after he went AWOL on the team in a game in Boston against the Red Sox on Aug. 17.

What followed from there was a series of reports on what really happened that night in Boston and what might have caused Marte to abruptly be away from the team before he was placed on the restricted list. Inflammation in his left knee that sent Marte on the injured list right after that did little to calm the storm surrounding the 32-year-old second baseman.

Marte was activated from the injured list and faced the media to answer questions about the previous two weeks. 

Ketel Marte makes big mistake with Diamondbacks fans

Marte admitted to reporters that he went through "a moment of frustration" that caused him to not show up for the game in Boston and not share any updates with Arizona manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen.

He went on to say that he had apologized to Lovullo, but he didn't go that far when asked if there was a message he wanted to send to Diamondbacks fans. In fact, he said nothing at all.

It was his silence that seemed to tip the emotion for Arizona fans later that night, who sent a strong message to Marte when he walked toward the plate for his first at-bat against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Lovullo tried to smooth over Marte's silence, telling reporters that Marte "pays attention to what the fans say and do" during the game.

If that's indeed the case, then Marte certainly should have caught the message that was sent by those inside Chase Field on Monday night.

The Diamondbacks must now figure out how to dance between what it takes to win a Wild Card berth and how to work Marte back into the good graces of the clubhouse and fan base. It won't be an easy dance for a player who entered Monday tied for fourth on the team with 1.9 bWAR and an OPS+ of 108, the third-highest of any Diamondbacks player logging more than 100 games this season.

With September starting on Tuesday, the chase for the postseason will intensify for Arizona. It will also intensify at home, with 11 of the next 17 games for the Diamondbacks coming at Chase Field.

Those games will be critical not only to Arizona's postseason hopes, but also to any chance there still is for Marte to show he is fully committed to the team and its direction this season in front of season ticket holders and other Diamondbacks supporters.

Monday did little to show that idea to Arizona fans. Now it's up to Marte and the Diamondbacks to figure out how (and even if) it can be done in September.

Kevin Henry
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A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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