Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte could not control his emotions and broke down in tears after a spectator made an insensitive remark about his dead mother.
Though the actual thing the fan said was not released by Major League Baseball or his team, it was so loud that Ketel heard it from his stand against the Chicago White Sox.
Ketel Marte was at bat and about to face a pitch when someone from the spectator side shouted a derogatory remark about his mom, Elpidia Valdez, who died in a car accident in 2017.
22-year-old Ketel became emotional immediately and moments later was crying, with manager Torey Lovullo and some of his teammates rallying around to console him.
The person that made the comment was identified and removed from the Guaranteed Rate Field. He was also banned indefinitely from all MLB events, amplifying its zero tolerance for abuse and aggression. Others called for stricter penalties against hecklers to further protect the mental health of players.
The Diamondbacks continued the game afterwards and emerged victorious by 4-1. They will next face the Miami Marlins on June 27.
Ketel Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, was very supportive and significant in his success, and he had mentioned her in many of his interviews. She died in a tragic car accident shortly after speaking with Ketel in the Dominican Republic.
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