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The Arizona Diamondback Star, Ketel Marte, received a warm welcome from the Diamondback fans in the first entry of the 9-8 team defeat against the Miami Marlins in Chase Field on Friday night.
It was the first game of the team at home from the 4-1 victory of the Diamondbacks over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday when a fan shouted derogatory comments about Mars’s late mother, Elpidia Valdez. She died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017.
The comments led Mars to the tears, and the second base of the star was comforted in the mound by the Manager of Diamondbacks, Torey Lovullo, during a launch change.
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Ketel Mars by Arizona Diamondbacks greets the crowd while encouraging him when he appears to hit the Miami Marlins during the first entry of a baseball game on Friday, June 27, 2025 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The fan who made the cruel comments to Mars was expelled from the game and indefinitely prohibited attending all MLB stadiums, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to Pak Gazette Digital.
In the Diamondbacks-White Sox game on Wednesday, the white socks showed a message of support on their score during the Mars bat turn at the first entry.
“Baseball is a family: the community of the White Sox supports Ketel Marte,” the message said.
Diamondback star Ketel Mars reveals what the fan told him about the late mother who caused an emotional response
Arizona Diamondback fans encourage Ketel Mars of the Arizona Diamondbacks, when it appears to hit the Miami Marlins during the first entry of a baseball game on Friday, June 27, 2025 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
When Marte approached the dish at the bottom of the first entry on Friday, he received similar support when he received a standing ovation.
Diamondback fans wore pink shirts that said: “Ketel is my MVP”, while other fans brought signs that said: “Arizona loves Ketel.”
Mars inclined his helmet and hit his bat in his chest in recognition of the vociferous support of the crowd.
The second base of the Diamondbacks of the Arizona, Ketel Mars (4), returns to the shelter against the Miami Marlins in the first entry in Chase Field on June 27, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Rick Scteri-Imagn images)
The 31-year-old was 0-4 with a walk in the defeat, but is in the middle of another great season. The two-time national league has an average bat of .307 with 15 homers and 32 races promoted in 55 games this season.
The Diamondbacks (41-40) will seek to recover against the Marlins al Rojo Vivo (35-45), who have won their last five games, Saturday at 4:10 pm et.
