Report: Fan banned by MLB after heckling Dbacks' Ketel Marte to tears with barb about late mother
A fan who heckled Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday night has been banned indefinitely from all major league stadiums, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
Marte was seen in tears on the field after the spectator yelled a derogatory comment about Marte's late mother during a seventh-inning at-bat in Arizona's 4-1 win over Chicago.
Advertisement
According to a White Sox spokesperson, the security staff at the ballpark relayed that the 22-year-old fan was 'very apologetic and remorseful after the fact, and admitted to being very inappropriate and stupid with his comments.' Another person confirmed to the AP that Major League Baseball had banned the fan from all big league stadiums. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because the punishment wasn't announced by the league.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo and bench coach Jeff Banister asked for the fan to be removed from the game. Before Wednesday's series finale, Lovullo said he 'had little bit of an interaction with the fan' as he was yelling at Marte.
'He wasn't getting it and was very pompous, and it didn't sit right with me,' Lovullo said. 'It was just a gross comment you wouldn't say about anybody, let alone someone who lost their mom.
'We need better baseball fans. Baseball deserves better.'
Advertisement
Marte's mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017. Marte, who hit a solo home run in the first inning Tuesday night, was seen visibly upset during a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh as Lovullo put his arm around his player and consoled him.
'I just reacted as a dad would when I went out to change pitchers,' Lovullo said, according to the Arizona Republic. 'I could see he was sobbing. It hurt.'
"(I told him): 'I love you and I'm with you, and we're all together and you're not alone. No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you heard, that guy is an idiot. It shouldn't have an impact on you.''
Marte declined to comment on the incident through a team official. Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo said the fan 'should be banned, for sure' and called for MLB to intervene.
'That can't happen,' Perdomo said. 'We can't continue to do that ... here in MLB.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What Did the Fan Say to Make Ketel Marte Cry? Here's What's Known
Diamondbacks' second baseman Ketel Marte's mom died tragically. Elpidia Valdez passed away in a 2017 car accident in the Dominican Republic, according to My Stateline. Thus, it's not surprising that Marte is still emotional about the topic. Advertisement Now a fan who taunted him about his mom has received his punishment. However, what the fan said exactly has not been revealed. What is known: The Diamondbacks' manager Torey Lovullo told AZCentral that he heard what the fan said to Marte but did not want to repeat it. A new TikTok video shows Lovullo yelling at the fan. The same TikTok page posted a video its creator says shows the fan being confronted by a security guard, but that has not been verified. 'Dumb f—,' Lovullo said, according to the New York Post, pointing at the fan. 'His mom died, you dumb f—. Dumb f—.' The fan "yelled derogatory comments about his deceased mother," AZCentral reported. The incident occurred in Chicago on June 24. Advertisement The 22-year-old fan, who has not been named, has been "banned" indefinitely from "all ballparks" in Major League Baseball, ESPN reported, citing a source. "Ketel Marte was in tears after a fan shouted something regarding his late mother that passed away in a car accident in 2017," wrote Barstool Baseball, sharing the video. "Manager Torey Lovullo and Geraldo Perdomo consoled him after the incident The fan was removed from the ballpark," the post says. The video shows Marte visible in tears. Marte's teammate Geraldo Perdomo urged Major League Baseball to take action against the man. 'That can't happen,' Perdomo said to AZ Central. 'Everybody knows how Ketel is. He's fun. He plays the game hard. I feel bad for him. I feel mad about it. I hope MLB can do something with that guy. I don't know who it was, but they've got to do something. We can't continue to do that (expletive) here in MLB.' Advertisement The fan showed remorse after making the comments, ESPN reported. Marte's mom died in the accident shortly after he had spoken to her on the phone, according to AZ Central. Related: Diamondbacks Manager Explains Ketel Marte Crying On The Field After 'Idiot' Fan's Heckling What Did the Fan Say to Make Ketel Marte Cry? Here's What's Known first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 25, 2025
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Bulls showed Jonathan Kuminga interest in prior star trade talks
The post NBA rumors: Bulls showed Jonathan Kuminga interest in prior star trade talks appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the rumors swirling around Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga and what his future will look like, there seems to be a general expectation of what the final destination will be. As it appears Kevin Durant's status has impacted Kuminga's trade market in some facets, there has been one team that has been present within the past several seasons with the star. Advertisement Jake Fischer wrote for 'The Stein Line' that the 'most likely outcome' for Kuminga is that he remains with Golden State as he is set to become a restricted free agent. However, Fischer would point out that Chicago has had 'ongoing interest' in the 22-year-old and that they've been active in trade discussions for him 'over the past two seasons.' 'None of those teams, though, have been mentioned to date as potential destinations for Kuminga,' Fischer wrote. 'It does seem, at this juncture, that the most likely outcome for the Warriors' restricted free agent swingman is a return to Golden State.' 'However…Sources say that Chicago has an ongoing interest in the 22-year-old forward,' Fischer continued. 'This tracks with past interest that the Bulls have shown in Kuminga in previous trade discussions with Golden State over the past two seasons involving players such as Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vučević.' The Bulls' connection to Jonathan Kuminga has been well-known Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images The Bulls being connected to Kuminga isn't new, as Fischer pointed out, as ClutchPoints' NBA insider Brett Siegel mentioned in May that the team, along with the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, have 'preliminary interest' in the swingman. Advertisement 'The Nets, along with the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, are three teams with preliminary interest in Kuminga ahead of free agency, sources said,' Siegel wrote. 'Both Kuminga and the Warriors could come to an understanding on a new, fair contract, but the idea of exploring sign-and-trade opportunities seems like the best path for both parties.' As Fischer would continue, Kuminga's future could look a little clearer once Durant is traded and on a new team, which would bring a shift to the plan's other teams. This includes Miami, which is in active pursuit of Durant, and if the team is unable to land him, the front office could look to Kuminga. 'The reality for Kuminga is that a clearer read on his summer landscape is unlikely to reveal itself until Kevin Durant's trade future is resolved and the NBA's most accomplished scoring forward, widely regarded as available, has a new team,' Fischer wrote. 'There is a belief among some rival teams, for example, that Miami could emerge as a potential Kuminga suitor — among various guards and swingmen that the Heat could target — if Pat Riley and Co. do not win the Durant Trade Sweepstakes.' It remains to be seen where Kuminga ends up this summer, as many finalities seem to be in play. Related: NBA rumors: The Jalen Green 'poison pill' that will delay finalizing Kevin Durant trade Related: Kevin Durant trade grades for Rockets, Suns after blockbuster deal
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Bulls' potential plan to move up in NBA Draft revealed
The post NBA rumors: Bulls' potential plan to move up in NBA Draft revealed appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 NBA Draft is a little over a week away, and it is a big one for the Chicago Bulls, who currently own the 12th overall pick in the draft. The Bulls nearly struck gold in the NBA Draft lottery as a coin flip with the Dallas Mavericks ended up having a ton on the line, but the Mavericks won the toss and eventually landed the first overall pick in the draft. The Bulls, on the other hand, got stuck with the 12th pick, so they are in a familiar spot. Advertisement After another trip to the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Bulls weren't bad enough to have a real chance to getting a top draft pick, but they weren't good enough to be a legitimate contender in the postseason. Chicago was eliminated with a loss in its first play-in game, and now a lot is on the line this offseason. The Bulls need to find a way to break out of this awkward mediocrity phase, and trading up in the NBA Draft could be the solution. The Bulls have been stuck in the same spot for a few years now as they aren't willing to tank for good draft picks, but they also aren't really making any big trades or signings to get themselves on the path to being a contender. If Chicago wants to see change, it needs to be willing to change. Trading up in the NBA draft would be a step in the right direction. 'Multiple sources have also relayed intel about Chicago exploring the possibility of moving up in this year's draft should [Ace] Bailey be passed on by the 76ers, or another team that trades up, with the third pick,' ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel said earlier this week. 'How the Bulls could possibly move up from the 12th pick to have a chance at selecting Bailey would be the ultimate question should the Rutgers star fall in the top five.' The one roadblock for the Bulls is that they have to have something to trade. A lot teams with top picks in this year's draft don't seem to be interested in anything that Chicago can offer from a player standpoint. Advertisement 'None of the three rebuilding teams behind the 76ers' pick (Charlotte, Utah, and Washington) would hold much interest in anything Chicago has to offer except draft compensation in future years,' Siegel said. 'It is tough to see a Bailey-Bulls scenario playing out in this year's draft.' The Bulls trading up in the NBA Draft sounds great in theory, but it is easier said than done. The door is open for it to happen, but a lot of things would need to fall into place. This year's NBA Draft will take place at the Barclays Center in New York, and it will get underway on June 25th. Related: Bulls rumors: Derik Queen buzz continues as NBA Draft nears Related: Air Jordan 12 'French Blue' release update
