Ketel Marte Remains On Restricted List After Missing Boston Game

Ketel Marte was placed on the restricted list by the Arizona Diamondbacks after he was absent for the team’s game against the Boston Red Sox, leaving the club without one of its key infielders shortly before the series opener.

The Diamondbacks had not announced their lineup with only about 20 minutes remaining before the first pitch because of Marte’s absence. The team subsequently moved him to the restricted list, a designation used to remove a player under contract from the active roster for reasons unrelated to a physical injury, including certain personal, legal, immigration or disciplinary circumstances.

Diamondbacks Turn To José Fernández

Arizona recalled infielder José Fernández from Triple-A Reno to fill the vacancy. Fernández was inserted into the lineup at third base and was scheduled to bat seventh against Boston.

The move came as Arizona dealt with the immediate consequences of Marte’s absence while the circumstances surrounding his placement on the restricted list remained the central issue. Marte, 32, is one of the Dominican players established in Major League Baseball, making his status closely watched by fans in both the United States and the Dominican Republic.

Marte Has Faced Previous Absences

The latest development follows an incident last year in which Marte missed three games after traveling to the Dominican Republic following a burglary at his Arizona home on the night of the All-Star Game. At the time, he apologized for leaving the team after reports indicated that some teammates had been unhappy with the decision.

The Diamondbacks have also faced questions about Marte’s availability more broadly. In June, manager Torey Lovullo defended the second baseman amid reports that repeated absences had caused frustration within the organization.

Lovullo rejected the suggestion that Marte was a poor teammate or that his absences were damaging the clubhouse. He said players sometimes need scheduled days away and argued that the perception of a problem with Marte’s relationship with teammates was inaccurate.

The latest placement on the restricted list puts Marte’s absence in a different administrative category from an ordinary day off or an injury-related roster move. Arizona’s decision leaves the Diamondbacks temporarily without the Dominican infielder as the club continues its season.

Restricted List Status Leaves Key Questions

Unlike an injured-list designation, the restricted list does not indicate a physical injury. The status therefore distinguishes Marte’s current absence from the type of roster move normally associated with a player’s health.

For Arizona, the immediate priority is filling Marte’s role on the field while he remains unavailable. Fernández’s promotion from Reno provides the club with an infield option, but the length of Marte’s absence and the circumstances behind his restricted-list designation remain important factors for the Diamondbacks.

Marte’s history with the organization means the latest development is likely to draw attention beyond a single missed game. His previous absence following the burglary and Lovullo’s subsequent defense of him had already placed his availability under scrutiny, making the current roster move another significant development for Arizona.

For now, the Diamondbacks must proceed without Marte while he remains on the restricted list, with further information about his status expected to determine when he can return to the team’s active roster.