PHOENIX — Ketel Marte spoke to reporters on Monday for the first time since reports his time-off requests frustrating members of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization came to light.
The star second baseman doubled down on those requests, insisting they’re in the interest of his main goal: helping the Diamondbacks win games.
Ketel Marte doubles down on his time-off requests, emphasizing his belief that they give the team the best chance to win and that he makes the most of those days off. pic.twitter.com/0bpP5czfy7
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 18, 2025
“In my opinion, it’s something that’s needed, and I don’t think that I take too many days off,” Marte said pregame through Spanish interpreter Rolando Valles.
“I’ve had injuries in the past and this is a plan that’s been integrated and taken within the coaching staff and myself in order to keep me on the field the longest.”
He said the days off are spent proactively recovering with intent to make the most of the time off his feet. Marte added he doesn’t mind the outside noise because he’s confident it’s the best way forward.
Manager Torey Lovullo said he was proud of Marte for being vulnerable and “digging in the way that he did.”
“What I will say about Ketel are the things that I know,” Lovullo said. “He’s a great teammate. He’s a great young man. He goes out there and plays hard every single day for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“He just wants to win baseball games. That’s it. And I really don’t wanna say much more than that other than I’m speaking about what I know of him, and it’s over.”
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo on Sunday had the most forward-facing show of support for his teammate when he jumped into Lovullo’s postgame press conference to tell reporters to leave Marte alone and let the team play baseball.
Marte, who said it felt great to see the support, added every one of his teammates has backed him up in some way.
Ketel Marte addresses missing 1st series after All-Star break
The second baseman apologized for not being back with the team after the All-Star break in time for its first series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Initially the plan was to come back Thursday (before the Friday matchup) and be with my team and practice,” Marte said. “I want to publicly apologize for not backing that up.
“I obviously, due to the circumstances of my situation, got frustrated and was in a bad spot, but I truly want to apologize for my teammates and everybody else who has supported the team.”
He said there’s never been a point where there has been a rift between himself and the team, whether that’s his teammates, the coaching staff or the front office.
Lovullo said he’s ready to put the situation in the rear view mirror to focus on baseball.
