Three-time All-Star Ketel Marte is expected back in the Arizona Diamondbacks lineup next week, roughly two weeks after his utterly bizarre and unexpected disappearance from the team before a game in Boston. This isn’t just about getting a star player back, it’s about navigating a seriously weird situation that’s got everyone on edge in the desert.
The Great Disappearing Act and The Road Back
It all started when Marte just vanished, leading the D-backs to initially put him on the restricted list. Turns out, he was later moved to the 10-day injured list, with the team citing mild inflammation in his left knee. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo laid out the plan for Marte’s return: back for a home series against the Philadelphia Phillies, which kicks off on August 31. Lovullo sounded like he’s trying to manage a tightrope walk, saying, “That’s what we’re thinking about. I think that will be the 10th day or the 11th day, so there is definitely a strategy to get him back on the field, get him healthy.” Marte even started taking batting practice Monday at the team’s facility in Scottsdale, and hitting coach Joe Mather reportedly felt encouraged by the 32-year-old veteran’s progress. They’re doing everything they can to get him physically ready, but what about the rest of it?
The Silence, The Stakes, and The Scrutiny
Here’s the kicker, though: Marte still hasn’t addressed his teammates about why he left them high and dry in the middle of a tight playoff race. The D-backs came into Monday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with a 69-62 record, sitting two games behind the San Diego Padres for that final National League wild-card spot. Every game matters, and their star just pulled a Houdini. What’s even wilder is that this is the second straight year Marte has gone AWOL. Last season, he hit the restricted list when his home in Arizona was broken into during the All-Star break. He flew back to his home in the Dominican Republic, missed three games, and later apologized for that absence. Lovullo is trying to play it cool, calling Marte a “very private” person and saying the team would find “the right time” for him to talk to his teammates. “We’re trying to create the softest space for him to re-emerge back in this environment,” Lovullo said. “One of the things that makes Ketel such an extraordinary player is he goes to the beat of his own drum. I respect that.”
But respect or not, there’s a real fear in the air about how D-backs fans will receive him. Lovullo openly addressed the concern that Marte might get booed when he returns. “Ketel is a very loving young man,” he said. “I don’t want (booing) to happen. I understand it’s a possibility it could happen, but we’ll all rally around him.”
So, when Marte steps back onto the field for that home series against the Phillies starting August 31, all eyes won’t just be on his bat. They’ll be watching how his teammates react, how the fans welcome (or don’t welcome) him, and if this team can truly rally around their enigmatic star to chase that wild-card spot. This isn’t just about his knee anymore, it’s about everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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