By DAVID BRANDT AP Baseball Writer
PHOENIX (AP) — Ketel Marte says his teammates welcomed him back to the clubhouse on Monday, two weeks after the three-time All-Star’s unexpected no-show before a game in Boston left the Arizona Diamondbacks scrambling.
Diamondbacks fans might take a little longer to forgive and forget.
Marte was greeted with a chorus of boos from the home fans at Chase Field on Monday night, when he returned to the lineup in a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The 32-year-old was the designated hitter and batted cleanup, going 1 for 3 at the plate with a single and a walk.
Marte — speaking through an interpreter — said he was a little surprised by the fans’ reaction. There were a few cheers before his first at-bat, but the jeers were much more noticeable. A man who held up a sign welcoming Marte back on the video board was also booed prior to the game.
“I felt a little strange in my first at-bat, but that’s hopefully going to go away,” Marte said.
The exact reasons for his head-scratching absence are still a little vague.
Marte addressed the media before the game and apologized to manager Torey Lovullo for the way he handled the situation, which has turned into a sizable distraction as the Diamondbacks attempt to return to the postseason for the first time since 2023.
“In that instance, I failed (Lovullo) by not showing up,” Marte said. “That morning I woke up, my body was in pain and I just couldn’t react. No one made the decision for me. I’m the one who made the decision to not show up.”
Marte should restore some punch to an inconsistent lineup — he came into the game hitting .249 with 21 homers and 67 RBIs this season. Arizona fell a half-game behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild card.
Marte said conversations with his teammates before Monday’s game went well.
“Thank god they accepted my apology,” Marte said. “The most important thing is for me to help them out. The most important thing is for me to stay healthy so I can help this team.”
Marte’s teammates have been mostly supportive of the second baseman, though there has been some frustration about the timing of his absence, which has come in the middle of a playoff push.
There have also been concerns about how he’s handled the situation. While the Diamondbacks were in the middle of a 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 21, there were pictures circulating on social media showing him at a casino.
Marte didn’t apologize for the casino trip and initially said he had no message for Diamondbacks fans, though he clarified postgame that he misunderstood the question.
“I didn’t really quite understand the word that was used at that moment, but I’m never going to stop loving my fans and that’s what I want them to understand,” Marte said.
This wasn’t the first time Marte has had a strange disappearance.
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.
Lovullo has repeatedly defended Marte throughout their 10-year relationship, despite admitting he felt “betrayed” by the second baseman’s actions in Boston.
“It’s something that’s a work in progress,” Lovullo said. “I think he told you he’s human, he’s not perfect. We all have bad moments and bad days — things we regret. For him to come up here and tell you that, I know it wasn’t easy.
“This is as much progress as I’ve seen him make.”
___
See AP’s full MLB coverage here