CHICAGO — In a deeply emotional moment that stunned fans and teammates alike, Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was brought to tears during Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox, after a heckling fan targeted him with a deeply personal and offensive comment about his late mother.
The emotional breakdown occurred in the seventh inning, just as a pitching change was underway. According to multiple eyewitness reports, including from fans seated nearby and confirmed later by Marte himself, a fan behind the Diamondbacks’ dugout yelled:
“I texted your mom last night.”
The comment pierced deep. Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, tragically died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017 — an event that occurred while he was playing a game in Chicago. The insensitive taunt immediately drew visible distress from Marte, who was seen wiping his eyes and struggling to maintain his composure on the field.
Upon hearing the remark and seeing Marte’s emotional reaction, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo left the dugout to comfort his player and speak with officials. Lovullo later confirmed that he told Marte,
“I love you and I’m with you. That guy is an idiot.”
The fan was immediately ejected by security personnel, and the White Sox later issued a lifetime ban to the individual, stating that personal, derogatory comments will not be tolerated.
Marte’s teammates also voiced their support, with Geraldo Perdomo publicly denouncing the incident:
“We respect fans, but that crossed the line. You don’t talk about family like that.”
After the game, Marte addressed the situation during a postgame interview. Fighting back emotion, he explained that while he’s accustomed to the usual heckling from opposing fans, this particular comment was different.
“People always yell stuff at me. But when it comes to my mom — that’s where the line gets crossed. That’s not part of the game. That’s disrespectful.”
He continued:
“We’re praying for him and his family. But I want people to know — there’s a line. And that crossed it.”
The incident has sparked widespread reactions across Major League Baseball, with players, coaches, and media figures voicing support for Marte and calling for stricter conduct policies for fans. The White Sox also issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to a safe and respectful environment for all players.
In a show of support, the stadium scoreboard the next day displayed the message:
“Baseball is Family — The White Sox community supports Ketel Marte.”
Despite the Diamondbacks securing a 4-1 victory, the moment was bigger than the game. Marte’s tearful response served as a powerful reminder of the human side of professional athletes. Behind the stats and the spectacle are people — sons, fathers, brothers — each carrying stories and scars unseen by the fans in the stands.
For Ketel Marte, this moment may become a turning point — not in his career, but in the conversation about empathy, sportsmanship, and the boundaries that must not be crossed.