Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was left in tears after a Chicago White Sox fan heckled him with a vile remark referencing Marte’s late mother during Tuesday’s game at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
Marte lost his mother in a tragic car accident in 2017, when he was just 17 years old at the time. He has spoken in the past about how deeply that loss impacted him, making the fan’s comment unimaginably cruel.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo didn’t mince his words during his postgame comments.
Emotional Torey Lovullo Reacts to Vile Comment Made to Ketel Marte
Lovullo, who has long been considered Marte’s father figure, was visibly emotional after the incident when he spoke to Todd Walsh, a Diamondbacks host and MLB reporter.
“Yeah, it was a terrible moment,” Lovullo said. “Fans can be nasty, and sometimes they go too far. I love my players, and I’m going to protect them.
“I’ve known Ketel for nine years,” Lovullo said. “He’s had some unbelievably great moments, and some really tough ones, too. I know what he’s been through. At the end of the day, we’re all human beings. We have emotions. And I saw him hurting.”
Here’s the initial explanation from @Dbacks Manager Torey Lovullo re the incident in Chicago where a @whitesox fan verbally abused Ketel Marte. pic.twitter.com/UZnwssmxfz
— Todd Walsh (@ToddWalsh) June 25, 2025
When asked what his first words were to Marte after the incident, Lovullo said: “I just told him, ‘I love you. I’m with you. We’re all together, and you’re not alone. No matter what was said or what you heard, that guy’s an idiot.’ That shouldn’t have any impact on him.”
Lovullo Reveals the Incident Has Only Made D-Backs Stronger
Lovullo said he’s proud of how his players have responded during a tough stretch. “Very [proud],” he said. “We’ve taken on a lot of water, but the ship is not sinking. The ship is still sailing, and the players are responsible for that.”
Lovullo said his role now is to steady the course and give the team a clear vision to rally around. “The guys believe that,” Lovullo said. “They go out there every single day and give me everything they have.
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“Those things that normally can bring you down, they’re making us stronger,” Lovullo noted. “I feel very good about where this team is going. We’re unifying.”
Still, he admitted that it’s emotionally draining to watch so many players go down with injuries, something that’s happened at an “unbelievable clip” lately. But Lovullo made it clear: The team remains committed and he believes they’ll “get through it.”
How Did MLB and White Sox React?
The MLB and White Sox swiftly punished a 22-year-old fan, issuing a league-wide ban that will now prohibit him from visiting all MLB ballparks.
In a statement, the White Sox confirmed the fan was “very apologetic and remorseful” and expressed regret for the inappropriate comment.
The White Sox also posted a message of support for Marte on their outfield video boards ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s game, which the Diamondbacks lost 7-3, on June 25.
The White Sox showed their support for Ketel Marte with a scoreboard message during his first at bat today pic.twitter.com/08G46PvFEF
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 25, 2025
Even Lovullo thanked the White Sox organization for their quick action and also praised Marte before the series finale.
“He’s a remarkable young man,” Lovullo said. “He’s incredibly strong, and last night was not easy for him. We’re waking up today, and we’re grateful for the support that the baseball world, the community, the fans of Arizona have given us.
“The Chicago White Sox, as well, they’ve been very supportive,” he said. “We’re ready to move on. I think that’s the best thing for everybody.”
Despite the loss, the Diamondbacks won the three-game series. Arizona is in fourth place in the National League West Division, eight games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.