Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Aug 10, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field.
While the Arizona Diamondbacks were fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, star second baseman Ketel Marte was living it up at a nearby casino instead.
All the while, Marte is on the IL with what’s listed as inflammation in his left knee and upper hamstring. However, he randomly left the team while on a road trip in Boston earlier in the week and was placed on the exempt list for undisclosed reasons.
At the time, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo expressed concern for his player.
“No, not really,” Lovullo said when asked if he was worried. I love him, and I care for him. He’ll be okay. He is fine. I want you guys to know that I just care about him. So does everybody in that room.”
Now, it sounds as if Lovullo and Marte’s teammates have gone from concerned to frustrated with the behavior of the three-time All-Star.
Torey Lovullo on the change in his emotions as this Ketel Marte situation has transpired:
“I was hurting. I was clearly hurting. Once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated, and I felt betrayed. And that’s a whole different type of pain.”@FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/sLx22EqaYT
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) August 21, 2026
Torey Lovullo Feels ‘Betrayed’ By Ketel Marte
Lovullo did note that once Marte finished treatment on his injury, he’s technically free to do whatever he chooses to do with his time.
However, it doesn’t sound like he’s overly pleased with Marte’s decision to bail on the team and go gamble.
“Once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated,” Lovullo said. “I felt betrayed. And that’s a whole different type of pain and frustration. But I’m through that.
“There’s right ways to handle things and wrong ways to handle things,” Lovullo noted when discussing how Marte left the team. “I think the conclusion that was drawn up yesterday was that we could have been better. Ketel could have been better, specifically. Admittedly so.”
Arizona currently sits just one game behind the Padres for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.