Ketel Marte’s camp is making one thing clear: the Diamondbacks second baseman wants back on the field as soon as possible.
That’s the message his agent, Charisse Espinosa-Dash, shared with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, according to Arizona Sports. In the statement, Espinosa-Dash said Marte appreciates the “unwavering support” he’s received from fans, teammates, the Diamondbacks organization and Torey Lovullo during what the team has described as a personal matter.
There’s still a baseball side to this story, too. Arizona Sports reported that Marte will have an MRI on his knee on Thursday, and that he had been sent back to Phoenix for the scan after missing Monday’s game at Fenway Park. The Diamondbacks placed the three-time All-Star on the restricted list before that game in Boston, where the Red Sox won 11-1.
For the D-backs, the timing matters. Marte is one of the most important players in the lineup, and any absence from him naturally changes the feel of the club. But the tone coming from his agent suggests the focus right now is on support, patience and getting him healthy enough to return when he can.
Lovullo told reporters after Monday’s game that he had heard something was going on with Marte that morning, but he expected his second baseman to report to the ballpark. Arizona Sports also reported that Marte did not communicate to Lovullo that he would not be coming in for the game.
For now, the clearest update is the one from Marte’s agent: he remains optimistic, and he wants to get back to contributing to the team as soon as possible. In a season where every absence can ripple through the clubhouse, that kind of message can matter just as much as the next lineup card.
