Diamondbacks infielder describes what it means to start All-Star Game
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte explains what it means for him to be voted in as a 2025 All-Star Game starter at second base.
A glimmer of excitement flashed in Ketel Marte’s eyes when he heard the question. He hadn’t just thought about what it would be like to participate in the annual Home Run Derby, he even knew who he wanted to pitch to him.
“If he throws me a strike, yeah, I could do something good,” Marte said, motioning toward Diamondbacks coach and interpreter Rolando Valles. “I’m not scared. I know I’ve got pop.”
For brief intervals on Sunday, July 7, the Diamondbacks were able to focus not on the direction of their season but on individual accomplishments.
The day began with news that Corbin Carroll and Eugenio Suarez would be joining Marte on the National All-Star team. It ended with chatter of who would like to participate in the derby — and who would stand the best chance of winning.
In between, they had to play another game, and like many that have come before it over the past couple of weeks, it did not go well.
In falling, 4-0, to the Kansas City Royals, the Diamondbacks lost for the eighth time in the past 11 games and finished their homestand with a 3-7 mark.
Manager Torey Lovullo repeated his desire for his players not to look forward to the All-Star break, but instead to remain locked in and focused until it arrives. At this pace, though, the break can’t come soon enough.
“I want us to play all the way through it,” Lovullo said. “We’ve got seven games left before it happens. We’re right at that critical point in determining which way our season will go.”
At 44-46 with just 3 1/2 weeks to go before the trade deadline, the Diamondbacks are not exactly buried in the wild-card standings — they are four games out with four teams ahead of them for the final spot — but they haven’t given any reason for the organization to push ahead as buyers.
“There’s no panic in that clubhouse,” Lovullo said. “I think that group feels like we’ve yet to play our best baseball, and they know something is coming. When we get there, you’ll know when we start playing good baseball. We’re going to catch some people and do whatever we have to do to get into this race.”
In getting shut out for just the second time this season, the Diamondbacks tied a season low with three hits and walked only once. Their trio of All-Stars had miserable days, with Carroll, Marte and Suarez each going 0-for-4. Carroll struck out in all four of his trips to the plate.
Carroll has been saying for weeks that he might not want to participate in a derby even if offered, in part because it could have a negative impact on his swing mechanics. But he said over the weekend that his recent hand injury now makes the idea “pretty much out of the question.”
Suarez and Marte offered different responses. Both seemed eager for the opportunity.
“I would love to do it, but nobody has asked me about it,” Suarez said. “If they ask me, I would say yes.”
Said Marte: “I might (like) to go one time before I retire.”
In December, Suarez beat out Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio in a home run derby that was part of the Venezuelan winter league. Marte said the only time he was in a derby was in his native Dominican Republic before he signed as a professional.
“I was OK,” Marte said. “I was a skinny guy, not a lot of pop. But we had fun.”
Marte, a switch-hitter, was asked if he would hit right-handed or left-handed. His answer was not surprising: right-handed. He then motioned to the left-handed Valles, a regular batting practice pitcher for the Diamondbacks.
“With him,” Marte said.
Only three of the eight participants for the derby have been confirmed so far: the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr., the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh and the Nationals’ James Wood.
First baseman/designated hitter Pavin Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to the Sunday, July 6 game with a right oblique strain.
Smith was said to be dealing with discomfort for several days. The injury was worse when he woke up on the morning of July 6.
Smith enjoyed a huge start to the season but has been sputtering at the plate for most of the past couple of months, hitting just .221 with a .674 OPS since the start of May.
Smith was replaced on the roster by infielder Tristin English, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Reno.
English, 28, was a third-round pick in 2019 out of George Tech. He was hitting .338/.388/.549 with nine homers in 237 at-bats with Reno. He owned a .373 average and 1.060 OPS in his past 150 at-bats there.
To make room for English on the 40-man roster, left-hander Tommy Henry was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Manager Torey Lovullo said before the game that Henry, who is out for the year following elbow surgery, did not need to have his elbow ligament replaced during the procedure. He said Henry had the ligament repaired and put in place with an internal brace, which likely means he could return to action sometime around this time next year.
The Diamondbacks made a roster move ahead of their series finale against the Kansas City Royals by placing right-hander Ryan Thompson on the 15-day injured list with a scapular strain and recalling right-hander Bryce Jarvis from Triple-A Reno.
Thompson had been pitching well in recent weeks, giving up just two runs (one earned) in 17 appearances since May 23. He tossed a scoreless inning in relief in his most recent appearance on Friday, July 4.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Thompson has been dealing with “a little bit of soreness in his upper back,” prompting the club to try to avoid using him for several days.
“He threw the other day, looked OK, but still felt like there was some pain management taking place,” Lovullo said. “We‘ve got to make sure we put him in a good spot.”
Lovullo said it is possible the IL stint will be a short one.
“I’m hoping,” he said. “We need Ryan Thompson on this team as fast as possible.”
Jarvis gives the club additional length out of the bullpen. He has been working as a starting pitcher in Reno, building his pitch count into the 80s. The ability to go multiple innings could be useful with Anthony DeSclafani, who had been the long man in the bullpen, set to start the game on Sunday, July 6.
The results in his past few outings have not been good; he has given up 12 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings, with eight walks, 12 strikeouts and three homers allowed.
Jameson dealing with bone chip in elbow
Right-hander Drey Jameson has a bone fragment in his right elbow, a development manager Torey Lovullo described as relatively good news for a pitcher who is in his first season back following Tommy John surgery.
“It has nothing to do with the ligament or Tommy John that took place,” Lovullo said. “It has everything to do with that little fragment in the back of his elbow.”
Lovullo did not have a timetable for when Jameson, who on the injured list with Triple-A Reno, could return.
“Whether they go in there and remove that (bone fragment) I’m not sure,” Lovullo said. “Or whether they let it lodge, which, a lot of times, that’s the case. Once it lodges in a comfortable spot, he just pitches with it. It’s embedded into a muscle. I bet if you would MRI everybody’s arms they have something pretty close to that.”
Lovullo added: “(Jameson’s timeline) depends on getting asymptomatic and getting comfortable enough and figure out what to do with it. He’s a tough kid he’s going to start pitching as soon as he can, I know that.”
Royals at Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Anthony DeSclafani vs. Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-8, 4.95).
At Chase Field: DeSclafani will be making his first start with the Diamondbacks after signing with them on June 15. He has made four appearances in relief, giving up six runs (five earned) in 9 1/3 innings. He has two walks and nine strikeouts. … A veteran of parts of 10 major league seasons, DeSclafani has spent most of his career with the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds. … He has averaged 94.1 mph with his fastball this year while leaning heavily on his slider. He also has a curveball, change-up and sweeper. … Lorenzen’s season has taken a turn for the worse over the past seven starts, in which he has posted a 6.88 ERA in 35 1/3 innings. … Most recently, he gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Mariners. … He averages 94.2 mph with his fastball. His change-up has been his best pitch, eliciting a 36.8 percent whiff rate and a .225 opponents’ average.
Coming up
Monday, July 7: At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (6-9, 5.45) vs. Padres RHP Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.31).
Tuesday, July 8: At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (7-4, 3.55) vs. Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (9-2, 3.25).
Wednesday, July 9: At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (8-6, 5.42) vs. Padres RHP Dylan Cease (3-8, 4.62).