The Ketel Marte drama with the Arizona Diamondbacks added another chapter on Friday when the All-Star second baseman was seen at a casino during the team’s 9-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Several accounts on social media shared photos and video of Marte gambling at Talking Stick Resort casino near the D-Backs’ complex in Salt River Fields. Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation by Arizona on Thursday.
The D-Backs put Marte on the restricted list earlier in the week when he was a no-show for Monday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The unexplained absence has created a significant controversy among team management and players still waiting to learn why Marte didn’t show up for work on Monday and didn’t communicate with anyone regarding the situation.
Asked about Marte’s appearance at the casino after Friday’s game, D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo expressed no frustration over this latest development.
“He’s free to do whatever he wants. That’s how I look at it,” Lovullo told reporters. “As long as he wakes up tomorrow morning and posts and gets his work done at Salt River, which I am certain he will, that’s all that matters to me right now.”
Lovullo went on to defend Marte, saying injured players were not required to be with the team during games. He was at the team complex on Friday morning doing rehab work for his left knee.
“He was there at Salt River, doing everything he was supposed to do,” he added. “When you’re turned loose from the medical team over there, you’re allowed to go home and have an evening with your family.”
However, when asked if it was a bad look for Marte to be at a casino while his team was playing a game and competing for a playoff spot, Lovullo backed off his defense a bit.
“Let me think about that answer,” he said.
Before Friday’s game, Lovullo admitted that he “felt betrayed” by Marte’s behavior, frustrated and “clearly hurt” by the lack of communication and accountability for his actions. Marte reportedly provided an explanation in a meeting with team president Derrick Hall and general manager Mike Hazen on Thursday. But Lovullo and D-Backs players are still waiting to hear from Marte.
“For us to go where we want to go, we’ve got to have him here,” pitcher Kevin Ginkel said before Friday’s game. “It’s disappointing how the things that happened happened. There’s really no explanation for it.”
Friday’s win improved Arizona’s record to 68-61, leaving them one game behind the San Diego Padres for the National League’s final wild-card playoff spot with 33 games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The D-Backs and Padres end the season with a three-game series at San Diego’s Petco Park.
In 118 games, Marte has a .249/.314/.446 slash average and leads the D-Backs with 21 home runs and 67 RBI.
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