Ketel Marte missed a Monday game against the Boston Red Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo didn’t pull any punches, telling reporters Friday that he felt “betrayed” by the second baseman’s absence. He said, “Once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated. I felt betrayed.” That’s a whole different level of pain and frustration for a manager, right?
The Fallout Was Real
The D-Backs wasted no time, announcing Monday that Marte had been placed on the restricted list right before that road game. MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert confirmed it was all because Marte never showed, even though the team held out hope “up until close to game time” that he would miraculously appear. Can you imagine the tension in that dugout? Lovullo hinted that Marte’s left knee injury was a big part of it, saying he thought there was “maybe a little bit of frustration” building up. He added, “I think he got tired, he got frustrated by a few things that I want to keep personal, and we’re going to work through that.” That’s some heavy stuff to hear from your skipper.
Clearing the Air, Moving Forward
The drama took a crucial turn when The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro reported Marte was heading back to Arizona for an MRI on his knee. Then, on Thursday, Marte and his agent finally sat down with Lovullo and Arizona general manager Mike Hazen. Gilbert reported on that meeting, and thankfully, both Hazen and Lovullo called the conversation “productive.” Lovullo explained, “We covered a lot of ground. We were able to say things that we needed to say to one another, and we are going to turn the page as quickly as possible and get Ketel back in a healthy frame of mind from a physical standpoint.” It sounds like some tough truths were exchanged. Lovullo admitted, “we could have been better, and Ketel could have been better, specifically, and admittedly so.” Acknowledging that is a big step for everyone involved.
So, what’s next for Marte? He’s starting his rehab in Scottsdale Friday. The D-Backs are crossing their fingers, hoping to get him back as soon as he’s eligible to return from the 10-day injured list. Why the urgency? Because the Diamondbacks are still battling hard, “fighting for an NL Wild Card spot down the stretch.” Every game, every player, matters when you’re in that kind of grind. And through it all, Lovullo says his relationship with Marte won’t change, insisting, “I love Ketel Marte , my relationship with him is not going to change.” Let’s hope they can truly put this behind them and make a run. The Wild Card race isn’t waiting for anybody.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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