Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall described the sudden absence of second baseman Ketel Marte as a "complete mystery" and "bizarre," stating that the organization is seeking explanations and apologies from the player. Marte did not report for the team's road game in Boston on Monday, leading to his placement on the restricted list. As of Thursday morning, scant details have emerged regarding the reasons for his no-show.
Hall confirmed that Marte is slated to meet with General Manager Mike Hazen on Thursday and undergo an MRI. Both Hall and Hazen expressed hope that Marte might still play again this season, as the Diamondbacks are currently one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot. Hall was with the team in Boston and last saw Marte at the hotel on Sunday night, noting he "appeared just fine" before becoming a no-show.
Despite the uncertainty, Hall believes Marte's absence has impacted the team. The Diamondbacks lost the first two games of the series in Boston before securing a 7-6 victory in 10 innings on Wednesday to avoid a sweep. Manager Torey Lovullo had become emotional on Monday when discussing the situation, admitting he had an early indication something was amiss but that the team had hoped Marte would eventually arrive at the ballpark.
This situation raises questions about Marte's future with the team. Hall recalled a previous instance in 2025 where Marte did not report for the start of the second half, which was attributed to a home robbery in the Dominican Republic, though Lovullo had previously clarified it was not officially a no-show. Hall emphasized that any player with a responsibility to be at the ballpark must be present unless prearranged. He added that the team needs to understand the reason behind Marte's absence, whether it's a personal issue or if he was feeling unwell and failed to seek treatment. "Personally, I’m disappointed a player didn’t show up and go where he was supposed to, but I can get past it if I hear a reason why," Hall stated. "Maybe there will be a reason to help him, and if it a personal issue as his agent is, we need to hear what that is and see if there’s a way for us to help him or alleviate this whole situation."
Marte is currently hitting .249 with a .760 OPS, having recorded 21 home runs and 67 RBIs in 118 games this season. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to host Cincinnati on Friday to commence a six-game homestand.