One of the weirdest stories of the 2026 Major League Baseball season just keeps getting weirder.
The Arizona Diamondbacks had a tough start to the year, but have battled back to put themselves squarely in postseason contention. Led by Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo, Gabriel Moreno and a resurgent Nolan Arenado, the Diamondbacks as of Wednesday afternoon found themselves just 1.5 games out of the third wild card spot in the National League.
Importantly, they finish out the season with three games against the team they’re chasing, the San Diego Padres. Perhaps even more importantly? They might have to chase those Padres down without one of their best players, infielder Ketel Marte.
SAN DIEGO PADRES STAR MANNY MACHADO IS WRONG TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MODERN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Marte’s had a down season, by his very high standards, but still leads the team in home runs with 21, strikes out just 15% of the time, and typically contributes solid to above-average defense. There’s just one problem: he didn’t show up to the game a few days ago, and nobody seems to know exactly why.
Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on before the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, on May 30, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/Getty Images)
Monday afternoon, the Diamondbacks were set to start a series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Each game vitally important, a series against a tough opponent on the road, and Marte just… didn’t show up. With no explanation.
Arizona waited until 20 minutes before game time to put Marte on the restricted list, and the story got even stranger afterward. Manager Torey Lovullo was asked about Marte’s absence after the game and said he tried talking to his star infielder but “there was very little coming back.”
“It’s been a crazy day. All I know is he’s dealing with a personal issue,” he said postgame. “We’re trying to figure that out. He didn’t show up today, and he was put on the restricted list. That’s as much as I know right now.
“I’m sure in time we’ll start to uncover and unravel some information. But I knew that there was something going on today. … I still believed he was going to be here. He just didn’t show up.”
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, on May 30, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/Getty Images)
Lovullo also seemed uncertain that Marte was even in Boston at all.
That personal matter, whatever it is, then turned into him getting an MRI for some undisclosed injury. After not showing up on Monday, he was absent once again on Tuesday, meaning he wasn’t seen by the team’s medical staff or coaching personnel. Once again, Lovullo seemed completely unaware of what was happening with the 32-year-old.
“I think he’s headed back to Phoenix to get some exams done on his left knee,” he said.
Lovullo went on to essentially say the team has moved on from worrying about Marte’s status, instead focusing on trying to win games.
“That’s what I’ve been told,” he added. “But overall, my focus has shifted. My focus yesterday was squarely on this topic, but right now it’s on the 26 players that are inside of the clubhouse right now. That’s my responsibility and that’s what we have to do in this game. We’ve got to shift our focuses and be present for what’s most important. And the most important thing to me right now is going out to win a baseball game.”
They lost 9-4 on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Marte’s agent, Charisse Espinosa-Dash, issued a statement to MLB reporter Jon Morosi, reiterating that he’s dealing with an undisclosed “personal matter,” as well as repeating that he’ll get an MRI on his knee.
MLB STARS ADDRESS SALARY CAP, OWNERS SAYING BASEBALL IS BROKEN AHEAD OF ALL-STAR GAME: ‘BAD FOR THE GAME’
“[Marte] is currently managing a personal matter and will be undergoing an MRI on his knee tomorrow. Ketel appreciates the unwavering support from fans, teammates, the Diamondbacks organization, and Torey Lovullo during this time. He remains optimistic about his recovery and looks forward to returning to the field to contribute to the team as soon as possible,” the statement said.
So to sum up, Marte didn’t show up to the stadium on Monday, didn’t tell his team he wasn’t going to show up, his manager wasn’t sure he was even in Boston, he’s dealing with a personal matter, and he now has a knee injury that requires an MRI — though he apparently didn’t come to the ballpark to tell team medical staff about it or get the MRI during the road trip. Bizarre, to say the least.
National League second baseman Ketel Marte (4) of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a photo on the red carpet before the 2025 MLB All Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
This isn’t the first time that Marte’s had an odd absence from his team. In 2025, he missed three games after the All-Star break and went home to the Dominican Republic, reportedly frustrated that his home had been burglarized.
He’s also asked for games off, something the team has acknowledged, though the “load management” model has been less of a problem than simply not showing up. Several outlets have reported that his teammates are frustrated with his absences or missed games, though Lovullo has repeatedly denied it.
When asked about it, teammate Geraldo Perdomo said he didn’t get a response to a text asking Marte what happened. He did say that he’s had a knee issue since mid-July.
“I texted him and asked him what happened, and he didn’t respond to me yesterday,” Perdomo said. “But today I just texted him about how his knee feels, because I know it’s been bothering him since the [All-Star] break. And he told me he felt a little uncomfortable and was going to get an MRI. So, that’s the conversation that we had.”
No one would fault Marte for missing games due to a knee injury. And obviously, personal matters can be extremely serious and justify being away from the team, regardless of the time of year or postseason ramifications. But not showing up to the ballpark, with no communication? That’s inexcusable. The worst part for the Diamondbacks and their fans? Nobody seems to know when to expect Marte back, if at all.
