A win on the field turned into heartbreak in the dugout when Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was left in tears following a disturbing heckle from a fan at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
The moment stunned teammates, infuriated coaches, and sparked calls for tougher consequences against abusive fans in Major League Baseball.
Incident Unfolds During 4-1 Win Over White Sox
Marte, 31, was at bat in the seventh inning during the D-backs’ 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, June 24, when a fan in the stands hurled a cruel taunt at him.
Marte popped out during the at-bat, but as he walked back to the dugout, it was clear something far more personal had occurred.
Moments later, he was seen sobbing on the bench. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo approached to console him. Lovullo, visibly emotional himself, confirmed to reporters that he had heard the comment directed at Marte and acted swiftly.
A Deeply Personal Attack
It has since been reported by TalkSport and other outlets that the fan’s remark targeted Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, who tragically died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017. The loss is a well-known and painful part of Marte’s personal history.
Lovullo told reporters after the game, per AZ Family: “It was a terrible moment. Fans are nasty, and fans go too far. I love my players, and I’m going to protect them.”
“I just reacted as a dad would,” he added. “I could see he was sobbing. It hurt.”
He revealed what he said to Marte in that moment: “‘I love you and I’m with you and we’re all together and you’re not alone. No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you heard, that guy is an idiot. It shouldn’t have an impact on you.’”
Fan Ejected Following Immediate Action
Lovullo and bench coach Jeff Banister acted quickly, requesting stadium security to remove the fan from the ballpark. The ejection was confirmed by team officials, per The Guardian.
“We can take a lot,” Lovullo said. “We sign up and we are in uniform to take a lot. But when you cross a line—and it’s a very firm, bold line—we become human beings.”
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was visibly upset by what happened and stood by his teammate.
“That can’t happen,” Perdomo told reporters. “Everybody knows how Ketel is. He’s fun. He plays the game hard. I feel bad for him. I feel mad about it. I hope MLB can do something with that guy.”
Despite the emotional blow, Marte still managed to go 2-for-4, including a solo home run in the first inning. His batting average rose to an impressive .320, with 15 home runs and 32 RBIs this season.
Diamondbacks Focused on Support and Accountability
The team has not yet issued a formal statement, but Lovullo’s postgame comments made it clear where the organization stands.
“I’ve known Ketel for nine years, and he’s had some unbelievably great moments and some hardships as well,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re human beings and we have emotions. I saw him hurting, and I wanted to protect him.”
Marte did not speak to reporters after the game. However, over on the Arizona Diamondbacks X page, fans have been voicing their support for the player.
“Tell Marte that he is loved in this community!! Hope he’s alright,” one fan tweeted. Another added: “Sending my support to Ketel Marte. That fan should be banned from every ballpark and stadium in the US.”
While the Diamondbacks secured their second win of the series and notched their 41st win of the season, the post-game focus was squarely on the emotional toll the incident took on Marte and the team.
Currently ranked fourth in the NL West, the D-backs are seven and a half games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. But this week’s events served as a stark reminder that behind the stats and performances are real people with real pain — and that some lines should never be crossed.
Let’s all remember that – whether face-to-face, to a stranger, online, or in a crowd – our words carry weight.