When will Ketel Marte play again for the Diamondbacks?
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he's spoken to "just about every player" about Ketel Marte, who could return next week.
Watch: What’s next for Ketel Marte, and can the Diamondbacks keep up in the pennant chase? | 35 mins
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have a strategy to get second baseman Ketel Marte back on the field as soon as possible, which would be next week against the Philadelphia Phillies, manager Torey Lovullo confirmed on Monday.
Marte has not played since Aug. 16, initially spending time on the restricted list after his Boston no-show last week. He has been on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation since Thursday.
If Marte indeed suits up for the Phillies opener next Monday, he will have missed 13 games after opting not to show up to Fenway Park without communicating with Lovullo.
“(Hitting coach) Joe Mather went over today, and (Marte) hit in the lab,” Lovullo said. “He was doing a lot more baseball activity. He was finally cleared to take some (batting practice) today. So, very encouraging.
“Joe liked what he saw for a Day 1 return. He’s going to have several days to go out and continue to get that build-up and be as ready as possible. If it’s possible to get him ready for Philly, we would definitely take the at-bats.”
Marte posted an Instagram story of his workouts at Salt River Fields on Monday morning. He started his rehab work on Friday, before he was spotted at a local casino during the Diamondbacks’ home game against the Cincinnati Reds.
As for whether Marte will be at Chase Field at any point during the rest of Arizona’s present homestand, which runs through Wednesday with a series against the Chicago Cubs, Lovullo said he did not know that answer.
The skipper said he has not talked to Marte since the two met at Salt River Fields with general manager Mike Hazen and Marte’s agent, Charisse Espinosa-Dash, on Thursday.
Lovullo has spoken with the other players in the clubhouse about Marte’s situation to take the temperature of the room, but he wanted to keep those conversations private.
“We’re trying to create the softest space for him to re-emerge back into this environment,” Lovullo said of when Marte will return to the clubhouse and address his teammates. “And that’s up to him however he wants to do it. I cannot force a human being to do something that I want to do or anybody in this room wants to do or a fan wants to do. One of the things that makes Ketel such an extraordinary player is that he goes to the beat of his own drum.
“I’ve talked to just about every player, and I know how they feel. But it’s a very individualized situation.”
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Comments
12 Comments
“We’re trying to create the softest space for him to re-emerge back into this environment...."
Is TL managing men or releasing a baby bird into the wild?
Yet another sign that this isn't your 2001 Diamondbacks.
Torrey is that you?
Remember. Don't boo him. He is very sensitive.