During a recent game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox, a concerning incident involving star player Ketel Marte occurred.
While Marte was at bat in the seventh inning, a fan in the stands made a hurtful comment about his late mother, who passed away in a car accident in 2017.
The remark deeply affected Marte, who was visibly emotional afterward. He was comforted by his manager, Torey Lovullo, and teammate Geraldo Perdomo.
The fan responsible was quickly removed from the stadium and has now been banned indefinitely from all Major League Baseball parks.
These types of bans need to happen more often given some of the vile things I have heard yelled at players at various ballparks. It has steadily gotten worse over the years.
Michael Young
Following the incident, Marte chose not to speak publicly about what happened.
The following day, as the teams faced off again, Marte received a warm round of applause from fans at Rate Field.
The stadium also displayed a supportive message on the video board, showing solidarity and respect for Marte during a difficult time.
Ketel Marte Honors His Late Mother, Keeps Her Memory Close
Ketel Marte, a talented baseball player from the Dominican Republic, has always been open about the deep bond he shared with his mother, Elpidia Valdez.
Both Ketel and his mom were born in Nizao, a small town in the Dominican Republic.
Ketel Marte was in tears after a fan yelled something at him about his mother, who passed away in a car accident in 2017. Per @CDrottar19
— Pack the Brew (@PacktheBrew) June 25, 2025
Ban that fan for life.
pic.twitter.com/wOcEWCvq9W
He often showed his love for her, especially on Mother’s Day, through heartfelt social media posts, calling her his “pillar of support.”
Sadly, in July 2017, Ketel’s world changed when his mother passed away in a car accident.
At the time, he was just 23 and playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had just finished a game when he received the heartbreaking news.
The team allowed him to take time off to fly home and be with his family.
Since then, Ketel has played with her memory in his heart.
He dedicated his 2023 NLCS MVP award to her, saying, “That was for my mom.”
When it comes to his father, very little is known. Ketel has never publicly shared details about his dad.
New video surrounding the ejection of a fan over what he said to Ketel Marte about the passing of his mom pic.twitter.com/BpWb4Zpjkn
— VargasIsKing (@Whiteso53605833) June 26, 2025
Today, Ketel is married to Elisa Guerrero, who is related to MLB star Vladimir Guerrero Jr.; Elisa is his cousin.
Ketel and Elisa have five children: Kelly, Mahienson, Keyden, Keycha, and Kadmiel.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ketel Marte began his professional baseball journey when he signed with the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent on August 13, 2010.
- He made his debut the following year in 2011, playing for the Dominican Summer League Mariners.
- In 2012, he split his time between two minor league teams: the Everett AquaSox and the Clinton LumberKings.
