What did fan say to Ketel Marte? Why comment about Diamondbacks star's mother resulted in indefinite ban

David Suggs

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What did fan say to Ketel Marte? Why comment about Diamondbacks star's mother resulted in indefinite ban image

On Wednesday, the White Sox announced they had banned a fan who taunted Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte.

Soon after, the MLB stated that the heckler was no longer welcome at any MLB ballpark. 

The incident took place the day before. Marte slugged a home run in the first inning. In the bottom of the seventh, he was in tears, with Geraldo Perdomo and manager Torey Lovullo stepping in to console the NL MVP hopeful while standing on the mound.

Here's what you need to know.

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What did fan say to Ketel Marte?

Marte revealed in an interview Friday that the fan yelled "I texted your mom last night." Marte's late mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in 2017.

Manager Torey Lovullo was among a handful of Diamondbacks team personnel to hear the remark. He asked for the fan, a 22-year old man, to be ejected from the game.

Lovullo offered insight into his vantage point during the incident while speaking with reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

"He’s a remarkable young man. He’s incredibly strong, and last night was not easy for him,” Lovullo said. “We’re waking up today, and we’re grateful for the support that the baseball world, the community, the fans of Arizona have given us. The Chicago White Sox, as well, they’ve been very supportive. We’re ready to move on. I think that’s the best thing for everybody.”

ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported that the fan admitted to directing inappropriate comments at Marte and expressed remorse for his actions.

The fan was summarily removed from the game. It's still unclear what he said to Marte, who declined to speak with the reporters after the game. MLB released a statement commending the White Sox for "taking immediate action in removing the fan.” The league also announced that the fan has been banned from all other ballparks effective immediately.

Chicago played Arizona again on Wednesday afternoon. During Marte's first at-bat, the team flashed a message of support for him on the scoreboard.

What happened to Ketel Marte's mom?

Marte's mother was killed in a car accident in Dominican Republic in July 2017. The news came during Marte's first season with the Diamondbacks, who acquired him from the Mariners as part of the Taijuan Walker trade a few months earlier.

After being called up on June 28, Marte had begun to establish himself as a fixture in Arizona's infield. The Diamondbacks immediately placed Marte on the bereavement list, allowing him to return to the Dominican Republic to be with his family. Marte paid tribute to his mother with a post on Instagram shortly after her death:

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.