Report: Fan banned by MLB after heckling Dbacks' Ketel Marte to tears with barb about late mother
A fan who heckled Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday night has been banned indefinitely from all major league stadiums, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
Marte was seen in tears on the field after the spectator yelled a derogatory comment about Marte's late mother during a seventh-inning at-bat in Arizona's 4-1 win over Chicago.
According to a White Sox spokesperson, the security staff at the ballpark relayed that the 22-year-old fan was 'very apologetic and remorseful after the fact, and admitted to being very inappropriate and stupid with his comments.' Another person confirmed to the AP that Major League Baseball had banned the fan from all big league stadiums. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because the punishment wasn't announced by the league.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo and bench coach Jeff Banister asked for the fan to be removed from the game. Before Wednesday's series finale, Lovullo said he 'had little bit of an interaction with the fan' as he was yelling at Marte.
'He wasn't getting it and was very pompous, and it didn't sit right with me,' Lovullo said. 'It was just a gross comment you wouldn't say about anybody, let alone someone who lost their mom.
'We need better baseball fans. Baseball deserves better.'
Marte's mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017. Marte, who hit a solo home run in the first inning Tuesday night, was seen visibly upset during a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh as Lovullo put his arm around his player and consoled him.
'I just reacted as a dad would when I went out to change pitchers,' Lovullo said, according to the Arizona Republic. 'I could see he was sobbing. It hurt.'
"(I told him): '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.''
Marte declined to comment on the incident through a team official. Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo said the fan 'should be banned, for sure' and called for MLB to intervene.
'That can't happen,' Perdomo said. 'We can't continue to do that ... here in MLB.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge officially placed on injured list with flexor strain
Aaron Boone spoke to reporters following another New York Yankees loss on Saturday. The news was not good. He announced the slugger Aaron Judge would be heading to the injured list with a flexor strain. The only good news was that there was no UCL tear to the injury. With the loss on Saturday, the Yankees are now 56-48, and have fallen six games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. MORE: 710 days: Chicago White Sox finally beat Chicago Cubs Judge is leading all of Major League Baseball with a .342 batting average. He also has clubbed 37 home runs and 85 runs batted in. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees make more moves before Thursday's MLB trade deadline. On Friday, the Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. More MLB News The New York Yankees acquire Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies Bryce Harper: 350 homeruns. But, who's next to pass? Kyle Schwarber makes history with fifth inning homerun against Yankees Milwaukee surges to 60 wins and National League's best record Toronto fans urged to lock in Bo Bichette before free agency Polar Bear Pete extends impressive streak in win over Cincinnati Dodgers avoid absolute disaster amid poor play MLB insider reports Guardians listening to trade offers on relievers
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Phillies continue to hammer Yankees, Edmundo Sosa says he's fine after pop-up collision with Brandon Marsh
The hard-hitting Philadelphia Phillies delivered one blow that they could have done without Saturday during their 9-4 road win over the New York Yankees. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh accidentally rammed into the back of utility man Edmundo Sosa. Marsh, playing left, was jogging forward. Sosa, playing third base, was backpedaling. They both were going for the Jazz Chisholm Jr. pop-up in shallow left field. Marsh's right elbow appeared to drill Sosa in the back as Sosa made the putout. Sosa held onto the ball long enough to secure the catch before dropping it to the ground, rolling over and grabbing at his back. Marsh, on the other hand, came out of the collision OK. Sosa was down for a couple minutes while receiving attention from trainers. He eventually walked off the field and received a hug from a remorseful Marsh. Sosa patted Marsh on the back of the head. Sosa officially left the game with a back contusion, but he told reporters postgame that he's feeling better and is good to go for Sunday's series finale. Sosa's scare was hardly the injury headliner, though. Yankees superstar right fielder Aaron Judge missed the game with what was ultimately diagnosed as a flexor strain in his right elbow. Fortunately for Judge, the two-time AL MVP isn't dealing with a UCL tear and is expected to have a short stay on the IL. The Phillies were without their starting right fielder, too. Nick Castellanos sat out with a left knee injury that he suffered Friday while running toward the right field wall to make the final out of a 12-5, series-opening win over the Yankees. Castellanos' injury doesn't appear to be serious, as Phillies manager Rob Thompson said before the game that they'll check back on the veteran's knee for Sunday. Before Sosa exited, he deposited a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning. The versatile 29-year-old launched a 424-foot no-doubter to center field. The night before, he helped the Phillies polish off another decisive win over the Yankees with an RBI single that ignited a four-run ninth inning. Sosa's homer Saturday was the Phillies' second big fly of the afternoon. Bryce Harper blasted a 425-foot solo shot in the third inning. Harper's smack to right center was part of Philadelphia's climb to a 4-0 lead through four frames. Then the Phillies distanced themselves in the seventh. Following Sosa's dinger, New York committed its 10th error in the past five games, this one resulting from a Chisholm bobble on a potential inning-ending, double-play grounder. Then surging slugger Kyle Schwarber drove home two runs with a double to center field. Schwarber now has five extra-base hits — including four home runs — and 10 RBI in his last four games. The Yankees faced a 9-1 deficit, having allowed at least seven runs for the fifth time in their eight games since the All-Star break. They scattered three runs of their own in the seventh and eighth innings, two from a Giancarlo Stanton long ball, but a massive comeback wasn't in the cards. Phillies starter Ranger Suárez improved to 8-4 after allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight batters while issuing only one walk and throwing a season-high 108 pitches. But the bats were the star of the show for the Phillies, who have recorded double-digit hits three games in a row. Luckily for Sosa, the one he took to his back doesn't appear as consequential as his two-run homer in the seventh.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Auburn first baseman Cooper McMurray lands deal with Atlanta Braves
One of Auburn's top sluggers is getting his chance to play professional baseball. Cooper McMurray, who just ended his college career after playing three seasons at Auburn, recently landed a deal with the Atlanta Braves. McMurray's deal with the Braves is of the undrafted free agent variety. McMurray had a consistent career at Auburn by knocking 42 career home runs, hitting an even 14 in all three seasons on the Plains. He never hit below .270 during his time in Auburn, and logged a career-best .326 as a redshirt senior in 2025. His average was not the only stat that McMurray reached a high in this season, as he also recorded 76 hits, 19 doubles, and 59 RBI. He ends his college career with 51 home runs, 154 RBI, and a career average of .293. McMurray joins Deric Fabian by signing an undrafted free agent deal. Fabian landed one with the Colorado Rockies shortly after the 2025 MLB draft. The duo joins Ike Irish, Eric Snow, Carson Myers, and, Parker Carlson in signing deals with MLB organizations. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Atlanta Braves agree to terms with Auburn star Cooper McMurray
