Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Ketel Marte’s status, stating Tuesday that the team needs to "get him right." Marte was placed on the team’s restricted list for a "personal issue" and did not appear in Monday's game against the Boston Red Sox.
Lovullo mentioned he was informed that Marte was traveling back to Arizona to undergo an MRI on his left knee, but could not confirm the information. "I told him that he had gone back to Phoenix to get testing done on his let knee, but also added, 'I don’t know that for sure,'" Lovullo told reporters. He added that he had not spoken to Marte directly on Tuesday, despite attempts to connect.
"When you don't show up to work, something is on your mind… we gotta get him right… I just want to be available to him," Lovullo said, noting his close relationship with the player. "He and I have a very strong relationship, maybe like a father/son relationship."
Marte had previously exited a game against the Atlanta Braves over the weekend due to left knee soreness but played Sunday before traveling with the team to Boston. His absence from Monday's game prompted the team to place him on the restricted list.
Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo stated he has no insight into Marte's situation. "The only text message I sent to him was asking about his knee," Perdomo told The Arizona Republic. "I don’t want to bother him with [all that other stuff]; I just wanted to see if his knee is OK."
A three-time MLB All-Star, Marte is currently hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs this season. Lovullo expressed hope for Marte's return this season, emphasizing his importance to the team. "We need him," Lovullo said, calling Marte "one of the best players in the National League."
This is not the first time Marte has been placed on the restricted list; he also missed three games last season after returning to the Dominican Republic.