Infielder’s mother died in car accident in 2017
White Sox remove and ban 22-year-old fan from stadium
Arizona’s victory over the host Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night was marred after a fan’s insults about Ketel Marte’s late mother left the Diamondbacks second baseman in tears.
Marte was visibly upset after the incident, which took place when he came to bat at the top of the seventh inning. The 31-year-old’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in 2017 in the Dominican Republic.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Luvollo put his arm around Marte and talked with him during a pitching change while the White Sox were batting. Lovullo said he heard the comment but declined to repeat what was said when asked by reporters after the game. Lovullo and bench coach Jeff Banister contacted security at Rate Field and asked for the fan to be ejected, a Diamondbacks spokesperson told the Arizona Republic.
