Ketel Marte Breaks Down After Fan’s Cruel Remark
MLB Issues Lifetime Ban Over Offensive Comment
Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was visibly shaken during Tuesday night’s game after a fan yelled an offensive comment about his late mother. The incident quickly escalated, resulting in the fan being banned from all MLB stadiums indefinitely.
The Moment That Sparked Outrage
On June 25, 2025, at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Diamondbacks led the Chicago White Sox 4–1. But during the seventh inning, emotions ran high. A 22-year-old fan shouted a cruel remark about Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, who tragically died in a 2017 car cr*sh in the Dominican Republic.
Marte, overcome with emotion, cried on the field as his teammates and coaches rushed to support him. Manager Torey Lovullo and bench coach Jeff Banister quickly alerted security. The fan was identified, removed from the stands, and later expressed remorse, admitting his comments were “inappropriate and stupid.”
MLB Responds Swiftly
Despite the fan’s apology, MLB took decisive action. The league issued an indefinite ban, barring him from attending any future games. Lovullo didn’t hold back, saying,
“It was just a gross comment… Baseball deserves better fans.”
Earlier in the game, Marte had hit a solo home run. But during a pitching change, Lovullo approached and consoled the sobbing second baseman. Marte declined to comment publicly, though he had previously honored his mother in a heartbreaking Instagram post after her d**th.
