08/31/26 06:10:00
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08/31 18:08 CDT Ketel Marte is back in Diamondbacks' lineup, 2 weeks after
no-show for game in Boston
Ketel Marte is back in Diamondbacks' lineup, 2 weeks after no-show for game in
Boston
By DAVID BRANDT
AP Baseball Writer
PHOENIX (AP) --- Ketel Marte was back at the ballpark Monday and in the
starting lineup for the Arizona Diamondbacks, two weeks after the three-time
All-Star's unexpected no-show before a game in Boston left the team scrambling.
The 32-year-old apologized to manager Torey Lovullo for the way he handled the
situation.
"In that instance, I failed him by not showing up," Marte said through an
interpreter. "That morning I woke up, my body was in pain and I just couldn't
react. No one made the decision for me. I'm the one who made the decision to
not show up."
The 32-year-old Marte --- who was listed as the designated hitter batting
cleanup --- should add some punch to the lineup as the Diamondbacks fight for a
playoff spot. Arizona held a half-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the
final National League wild card as it opened an important three-game series
against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Marte was hitting .249 with 21 homers and 67 RBIs this season. He said he would
address his teammates before Monday's game.
"I'm going to stand in front of my teammates like a man," Marte said. "I don't
want any of my teammates to go through what I went through that morning."
Marte was initially put on the restricted list after failing to show up for the
game in Boston, but then moved to the 10-day injured list with mild
inflammation in his left knee.
Marte's teammates have been mostly supportive of the second baseman over the
past two weeks, though there has been some frustration about the timing of his
absence, with the D-backs trying to secure a playoff berth for the first time
since 2023.
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