Ketel Marte's Return to Diamondbacks Expected Next Week Amid Personal Matters
The Arizona Diamondbacks hope three-time All-Star Ketel Marte will return to their lineup next week, roughly two weeks after his unexpected disappearance from the team before a game in Boston. Manager Torey Lovullo said Monday the team's plan is for the second baseman to return for a home series against the Philadelphia Phillies, which starts on Aug. 31.
Marte was initially placed on the restricted list after his disappearance, but then moved to the 10-day injured list with mild inflammation in his left knee. Lovullo said the timing aligns with the injured list window: "That's what we're thinking about," he said. "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."
Lovullo said Marte started taking batting practice Monday at the team's facility in Scottsdale, and hitting coach Joe Mather was encouraged by the veteran's progress. The 32-year-old Marte still hasn't addressed his teammates about why he left them in the middle of a playoff race. The D-backs came into Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs with a 69-62 record, two games behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot.
The Reason Behind the Absence
Newsweek reported, citing Francys Romero, that Marte is dealing with personal matters, leading to his exclusion from Monday's lineup. Marte traveled with the Diamondbacks to Boston ahead of the team's series against the Red Sox, though he didn't show up to the ballpark on Monday—leading to his placement on the restricted list and league-wide speculation as to why he wasn't present. Per Romero, Marte is day-to-day, but there isn't an estimated date for his return. The restricted list doesn't have a set minimum nor maximum time limit, so Marte can return to the team whenever he sees fit.
In the meantime, Jose Fernandez came up to MLB from Triple-A to replace Marte on the roster. Fernandez batted seventh for the Diamondbacks and played third base in their blowout loss to the Red Sox on Monday. Newsweek noted that Marte would certainly have helped the offense in their loss, as he has been one of their better offensive contributors this season.
Lovullo's Approach and Marte's History
Lovullo said Marte is very private and the team would figure out the right time for him to address his teammates. "We're trying to create the softest space for him to re-emerge back in this environment," Lovullo said. "That's up to him however he wants to do it. I cannot force a human being to do something that I want to do, or anybody in this room wants to do, or a fan wants to do."
"One of the things that makes Ketel such an extraordinary player is he goes to the beat of his own drum. I respect that," Lovullo added. He also addressed the potential for fan booing upon Marte's return, saying he doesn't want that to happen and the team will rally around him.
It's the second straight year Marte has gone AWOL from the team. Last season, he went on the restricted list when his home in Arizona was broken into during the All-Star break. He missed three games after flying back to his home in the Dominican Republic and later apologized for his absence.
Marte's Season and Postseason Implications
Newsweek detailed Marte's performance this year. The infielder struggled for results early in the season, but started to pick up the pace in May, when he hit four homers and drove in 22 runs while posting an .869 OPS. He carried his momentum into June, posting an even higher OPS while doubling his home run count from May. July proved a little more difficult for Marte, as his OPS sat around .600 for the entire month, but he seems to have figured things out in August, as he has multiple hits in three of his last five games. On the year, he has 21 homers and 67 RBIs, posting an above-average .760 OPS.
After their loss on Monday, the Diamondbacks remain one game behind the San Diego Padres as they look to claim the final spot in the Wild Card. They still lead the Miami Marlins by two games after the Marlins' loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Marte's absence affects the team's composition, as Newsweek indicated his potential replacements aren't nearly as productive. Arizona hopes to get him back before the end of their series against the Red Sox, which continues Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. EST.