The Chicago White Sox display a sign in solidarity with Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte after a fan heckled him during Wednesday’s game at Rate Field. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

PHOENIX – A fan who brought Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Ketel Marte to tears during a game against the Chicago White Sox has been banned indefinitely from all MLB stadiums.

As the Diamondbacks were playing at Rate Field Tuesday, Marte was visibly emotional on the field. After the game, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Marte was upset about a comment that a White Sox fan directed at him about his late mother. Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017.

“I looked right at him and he looked at the person, as well,” Lovullo told reporters. “He put his head down and I could tell it had an immediate impact on him, for sure.”
The 22-year-old fan, who was ejected during the game, admitted that he made the remarks toward Marte. Lovullo was seen consoling Marte during a pitching change at the bottom of the seventh inning, when the incident happened.

Lovullo declined to repeat what the fan said. When asked what he told Marte, he said he told him, “I love you and I’m with you. We’re all together and you’re not alone. No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you heard, that guy’s an idiot and shouldn’t have an impact on you.”

In a statement, MLB said, “We commend the White Sox for taking immediate action in removing the fan.”

The league confirmed that the fan is banned from all Major League ballparks indefinitely. During Wednesday’s game against the Diamondbacks, the White Sox put a message on their outfield video screen saying, “Baseball is family. The White Sox community supports Ketel Marte.”

Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, also seen supporting Marte, called the MLB to action after the game.

“I hope MLB can do something about it,” he said. “I think everybody watching on TV could see how emotional he was. We need to stop that (expletive), for sure.”

Fans have been encouraged to donate to the Diamondbacks foundation.

UPDATE: 345 donors from 6 different countries, and 30 different states have donated over $11,000 in memory of Ketel Marte’s mother.

If you feel so inclined, visit https://t.co/S1lwB9s0mO to contribute. https://t.co/WGB7Er0nSj

— Steve Zinsmeister (@Steve_Zins) June 25, 2025

The support for Marte has been evident from the Diamondbacks’ fans social media. An X account under the handle ‘MrAzSports” brought up the idea of Marte receiving a standing ovation when he comes up to bat Friday against the Marlins at Chase Field. This tweet has over 100,000 views.

If you are going to the Dbacks game on Friday, when Ketel Marte comes up to bat everyone should give him a standing ovation.

Thoughts?

— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) June 25, 2025

In another tweet that has over 157,000 views, an X account under the handle “D-Backs Dispatch” said that Diamondbacks fans should wear pink to show appreciation for Marte and his mother.

In honor of Ketel’s mother we’re asking fans if you’re going to any of the games this weekend to wear pink or your brightest most fun clothes in solidarity with Ketel! We want to show how much we love and appreciate our MVP and his wonderful mother who brought him into this… pic.twitter.com/nYYj9qG3lL

— DBacks Dispatch (@DbacksDispatch) June 25, 2025

Follow Cronkite News: Phoenix Sports on Twitter.