Diamondbacks activate Ketel Marte to start as DH vs. Phillies
The Diamondbacks will start Ketel Marte at designated hitter on Monday, batting fourth against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola.
Watch: Bickley Blast: Is it time for Diamondbacks fans to send Ketel Marte a message? | 10 mins
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated second baseman Ketel Marte on Monday, and he started as the designated hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Marte had not played since he did not show up to Fenway Park in Boston two weeks ago on Aug. 17, having since spent time on the restricted list and the IL for knee inflammation. He met with manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen on Aug. 20, and from there the plan became clear that he would rehab and get back by the Phillies series.
Marte hit cleanup in his first game back. Here’s the rest of the Diamondbacks lineup Monday against the Phillies:
- SS Geraldo Perdomo
- RF Corbin Carroll
- C Gabriel Moreno
- DH Ketel Marte
- LF Lars Nootbaar
- 3B Nolan Arenado
- 1B Tim Tawa
- 2B Ildemaro Vargas
- CF Ryan Waldschmidt
To create roster space for Marte, the D-backs optioned infielder Jose Fernandez.
Rosters will expand by two spots on Tuesday, the start of September.
Marte met with reporters on Monday prior to the start of Arizona series against Philadelphia, and Lovullo watched him address the media from the back of the room.
The plan for Marte on Monday also included his address to the clubhouse after two weeks of uncertainty about why he left his teammates and coaches hanging in Boston and how come he has not returned in the meantime.
Marte has a history of stepping away, and teammates have expressed varying levels of frustration.
How he refocuses and contributes to this lineup now becomes a pertinent storyline for the rest of this season, as the Diamondbacks are fighting for a playoff spot. Arizona entered Monday a half-game ahead of the San Diego Padres for the third National League Wild Card spot.
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Comments
20 Comments
My, oh my, how the game has changed. Consider this quote from Manager Bob Brenly, talking about how Matt Williams, playing the hot corner, dealt with some significant injuries....
"“I know for a fact Matty went out there on that playing field many, many times when he was way less than 100 percent because he expected it of himself and he knew his teammates expected him to do it.”
— Bob Brenly
Can you imagine Torey Lovullo making a statement like that about Ketel Marte??
ME NEITHER.
Still a fan of this TEAM, just no longer a fan of Marte. Please trade or cut him.
The only thing I can think about is how supportive the Diamondbacks fans were when the "incident" in Chicago happened. How we cheered for him, I was at the game, it was incredible. Never seen so much support. He just gave us the finger. Boo his A$$ !!!