Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte reveals what fan said to him about late mother that prompted emotional response
Arizona Diamondbacks star second baseman Ketel Marte was in tears during a pitching change in the seventh inning of the team's 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday after an opposing fan made a comment about his late mother.
Marte's mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic in 2017.
The incident resulted in the fan who made the comment being indefinitely banned from MLB ballparks, and an outpouring of support for Marte.
The 31-year-old All star revealed what the fan said about his mother during an interview on "Danny Beisbol" Thursday.
Marte claimed the fan yelled, "I sent your mom a text last night." Marte made the claims in Spanish, but it was translated through subtitles on the podcast.
"What happened was in the seventh inning, I came to bat. I'm ready at the plate and I hear this fan shouting. He was on top of the dugout," Marte said. "He yelled at me, saying stuff about my mom. He was like, 'I sent your mom a text last night.' When everything happened with my mom, I was here in Chicago. I was in this city."
He added fan behavior is "getting out of hand."
MLB provided a statement addressing the incident.
"We commend the White Sox for taking immediate action in removing the fan," MLB said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The Diamondbacks played the White Sox again Wednesday, and the White Sox displayed a message on their scoreboard in support of Marte in the first inning.
"Baseball is Family: The White Sox community supports Ketel Marte," the message said.
Diamondbacks' manager Torey Lovullo consoled the tearful Marte on the mound and put his arm around him during a pitching change in the seventh inning.
"It was a terrible moment. Fans are nasty. Fans go too far," an emotional Lovullo told reporters after the game.
Lovullo added that he told Marte he was not alone, and that the heckler was "an idiot."
Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo called for the fan to banned after the game ended Tuesday.
"That can't happen," Perdomo said. "We can't continue to do that ... here in MLB."
In 52 games, the two-time All-Star has a .316 batting average with 14 home runs and 31 RBIs.
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"I wish I could have recorded that conversation" - Derrick Rose on Michael Jordan congratulating him on his first All-Star selection
"I wish I could have recorded that conversation" - Derrick Rose on Michael Jordan congratulating him on his first All-Star selection originally appeared on Basketball Network. When Derrick Rose earned his first All-Star nod, that alone was worth celebrating. But then came the real kicker — a call from Michael Jordan himself. Advertisement Growing up in Chicago, Rose had always looked up to Jordan. So when the latter picked up the phone to congratulate him, it meant everything. For the freshly crowned All-Star, it was one of the highest signs of respect the game could offer. A new franchise star Rose didn't just hit the league running — he showed up collecting hardware. Drafted first overall by his hometown team in 2008, the Chicago native grabbed Rookie of the Year right out of the gate. By his third season, he had become the youngest Most Valuable Player in league history — and in between, earned his first All-Star nod. That first selection during the 2009–10 regular season was more than just a reward for his numbers — 20.8 points, 6.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds per contest. It marked a turning point. Advertisement After years of post-dynasty drought, the team from Windy City finally had a star to build around. The city felt it. The league saw it. And the greatest Bull of all time noticed, too. "I'm very happy for him," Jordan told via text. "The Bulls deserve an All-Star. [Rose] is a very special player." Cross-generational respect In early 2010, Jordan had plenty on his plate — still riding the wave of his Hall of Fame induction and preparing to welcome his former congenial partner and six-time championship-winning teammate Scottie Pippen into the club that fall. Yet despite everything, His Airness made time to personally call the Bulls' rising point guard star after the All-Stars were announced. For Rose, who would earn the honor twice more in his 15-year NBA career, it wasn't just a call — it was a moment he wanted to cherish forever. Advertisement "I wish I could have recorded that conversation," a beaming Rose said. "For him (Jordan) to say that, that's crazy right there. I was just amazed he even knew my name when I first met him. He's a legend in the game of basketball, in the NBA and in Chicago. For him to say that it means a lot." While that was certainly a highlight, Rose, retired since September 2024, said many more congratulations came — texts, calls, even long-distance shouts from ex-Chicagoans. But the then-21-year-old kept it grounded, just hoping to maintain his momentum. "Everybody's just happy for me and I hope I just keep playing well," remarked Rose. In the NBA, cross-generational relationships are often strained or marked by a lack of respect. But this clearly wasn't the case here. Mike made his admiration for Derrick clear once again just a year later when the latter won his MVP award. Advertisement "He (Rose) deserves it. He's playing that well. Without a doubt. If he doesn't get it, now he'll understand how I felt for many years," said Jordan, who himself won the MVP award five times during his storied career. Related: "I can't think of a better person to do it" - Scottie Pippen on Michael Jordan presenting him at his Hall of Fame induction This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"I was scared, I was nervous" - Michael Jordan admitted he was having mixed emotions when he first came to Chicago
"I was scared, I was nervous" - Michael Jordan admitted he was having mixed emotions when he first came to Chicago originally appeared on Basketball Network. Probably the most famous athlete in the history of Chicago, Michael Jordan is revered across generations for his contributions to the Bulls franchise. He delivered six titles to the city — completing two three-peats during the nineties. Advertisement So, it is no surprise the team decided to honor him with his own statue outside the Bulls' arena, United Center. Knowing how confident he was during his career, it's surprising that Jordan had mixed emotions moving to a big city like Chicago after he was drafted in 1984. Born in Brooklyn, New York, MJ was only a couple of years old when his family moved to North Carolina as he spent his adolescence in small cities and towns like Wilmington and Chapel Hill. His mother, Deloris, served as a bank employee, while his father, James R. Jordan Sr., was an equipment manager. Growing up, nobody imagined MJ emerging as one of the greatest basketball players of all time because there were not many great players from that area. Advertisement In a 1993 interview with Larry King, Jordan recalled the emotions he felt moving to Chicago for the first time. "I was happy, I was scared, I was nervous. I was coming from a city that didn't have too many success stories in the game of basketball. So, I wanted to be a pioneer in that sense for other kids to follow that certain guideline, but I was really nervous coming to a city that I didn't know anybody and I had to start off with new friends," Mike said at the time. Related: "We only needed one more guy" - Patrick Beverley says the Clippers lost SGA because Kawhi thought he needed more help Learning the social fabric of Chicago Beginning his pro basketball journey with the Bulls, Jordan had to adjust to a new surrounding and living in a big city. Recalling his early days in Chicago, he was fascinated by everything he was learning in Chicago. Advertisement "I didn't know the history that was good. I didn't know anything about the past; I didn't know the gangsters or racism. So I was learning the city from ground one/ground zero, and all of the people I encountered may have been a little biased because they were really nice people and I was just seeing the good side, but every time you go to the stadium, you see different sides because of where the stadium is," Jordan revealed. Mike talked about the stadium being in a bad neighborhood and how seeing their favorite stars hoop could have a positive effect. At the time, MJ was coming off his first retirement in 1993 but planned to continue living in Chicago. Earning legendary status with the Bulls Playing 13 seasons for the Bulls, Jordan wanted the franchise to have the same recognition and following as the Lakers and Celtics and that meant winning multiple championships. Staying true to his mission, MJ helped the Bulls achieve unprecedented success, not only clinching the already mentioned six championships, but growing global fan base as well because of it. Advertisement No doubt, the marriage between the Bulls and Jordan encountered its fair share of challenges, but they overcame all odds. The people of Chicago haven't seen the same kind of success since, not even close. Related: "I wish I could have recorded that conversation" - Derrick Rose on Michael Jordan congratulating him on his first All-Star selection This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Takes Huge Shot At Big Ten Football Coach
Paul Finebaum Takes Huge Shot At Big Ten Football Coach originally appeared on The Spun. Paul Finebaum didn't hesitate to take a personal shot at one Big Ten coach after they seemingly eluded to Georgia's Kirby Smart tampering with one of their school's best players. Advertisement Appearing on the "The Triple Option" podcast, Bret Bielema seemed puzzled by running back Justin McCray's transfer to the Bulldogs this offseason. Saying: "We did lose a guy to Georgia. Somehow, he found his way to the portal and 12 hours after being in the portal, he was on a flight to Georgia. I don't know how that happened, but it's crazy." Those comments pretty quickly led to a response from Finebaum, who wasted no time firing back at the Fighting Illini HC for his claims against Kirby and one of the SEC's top powers. "Knowing Bret Bielema for a long time, the only thing that surprised me is understanding his voracious appetite that he didn't bit the microphone and try to swallow it because he doesn't seem to mind running his mouth," the CFB personality said. Advertisement "I would worry more about maybe being successful on the football field so he doesn't get fired there like he did at Arkansas. As opposed to running his mouth and making allegations that there's no chance in the world he can back up," Finebaum concluded. STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 16: Paul Finebaum broadcasts from the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the LSU Tigers on September 16, 2023 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Finebaum's assessment was certainly a low blow— especially for a coach who's had his share of successes over the years. But the SEC commentator's brand has been one of defending his conference at every turn. Related: Jim Harbaugh Added To Disturbing Lawsuit Against Ex-Michigan Coach Paul Finebaum Takes Huge Shot At Big Ten Football Coach first appeared on The Spun on Jun 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
