MLB bans fan for inappropriate heckling of Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte

According to a person with direct knowledge of the decision, a spectator who jeered Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte during Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field has been permanently barred from all major league stadiums, The Associated Press reported.

When a fan made a disparaging remark about Marte’s late mother during a seventh-inning at-bat in Arizona’s 4-1 victory over Chicago, Marte was observed crying on the field.

Tonight, Ketel Marte broke down in tears after a fan said something to him about his mother, who died eight years ago in a car accident.Humans are repulsive. I am quite nauseous from this.https://tweet.com/SzpLYuVq&

A White Sox representative said that the ballpark’s security personnel reported that the 22-year-old fan was really sorry and regretful after the occurrence, and that he acknowledged that his remarks were extremely improper and foolish. Major League Baseball banned the fan from all major league stadiums, according to another source who spoke to the AP. Due to the league’s failure to publicize the sanction, the individual spoke on condition of anonymity.

The supporter was asked to leave the game by Arizona bench coach Jeff Banister and manager Torey Lovullo. Lovullo claimed to have had a brief encounter with the fan while he was yelling at Marte prior to Wednesday’s series finale.

“I didn’t like that he was so conceited and didn’t understand,” Lovullo remarked. It was simply an offensive remark that you wouldn’t make about anyone, much less someone who had lost their mother.

Better baseball fans are needed. Better is because to baseball.

In 2017, Elpidia Valdez, Marte’s mother, lost her life in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. During a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh inning, Marte, who blasted a single home run in the first inning Tuesday night, was observed to be clearly distraught as Lovullo wrapped his arm around his player and comforted him.

Lovullo told the Arizona Republic, “I just reacted as a dad would when I went out to change pitchers.” He was crying, and I could see it. It was painful.

I’m with you, I love you, we’re all together, and you’re not alone, I reassured him. That man is a moron regardless of what transpires, what was said, or what you heard. You shouldn’t be affected by it.

We support you. Martepic Ketel https://twitter.com/0fFUbegw4A

Through a team representative, Marte declined to comment on the event. Geraldo Perdomo, a shortstop with the Diamondbacks, urged for MLB to step in and stated that the fan should definitely be suspended.