9:41 p.m.: Lovullo didn’t provide many details in his postgame interview: “It’s been a crazy day. All I know is he’s dealing with a personal issue. We’re trying to figure it out. He didn’t show up today and they put him on the restricted list,” the manager said after the game (link via Sports Illustrated’s Alex D’Agostino). “That’s all I know now… I knew something was going on today when I met with (the media), but I still believed he was going to be here. He just didn’t show up.” “I know there were a lot of discussions about it at different times in the clubhouse today,” Lovullo added later. “There was a lot of curiosity. We worried about Ketel.” 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro reported this afternoon that the D-Backs believe, but are unsure, that Marte remains at the team hotel in Boston. 6:08 p.m.: The Diamondbacks placed second baseman Ketel Marte on the restricted list shortly before first pitch tonight in Boston. Infielder José Fernández was recalled from Triple-A Reno. The team has not commented publicly. Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports that Marte traveled with the team to Boston but did not appear at Fenway Park. According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the team had waited until game time in hopes that Mars would arrive. Piecoro adds that Marte was expected to serve as the designated hitter. Lars Nootbaar gets that task instead, albeit at the back of the lineup with Boston pitching a left-handed starter opposite Brayan Bello. Fernández was with the team in the taxi squad because Nolan Arenado is on a day-to-day basis with a torso injury. Arenado will not play tonight and may need a stint on the disabled list. Fernandez steps up to the hot corner as part of a makeshift infield that also features Ildemaro Vargas and Tim Tawa around star shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. The restricted list is used when players are unavailable for reasons unrelated to injury. There is no minimum period and players are not paid. It is quite common for a player to spend a day or two on the restricted list while attending to a personal matter (for example, an extra day of paternity leave). Marte’s absence, however, seems to have caught the team off guard. Piecoro reports that the star second baseman is physically healthy but did not appear for the game. It’s been almost a year since Piecoro and others reported that Marte’s work habits had frustrated some of his teammates. That was most directly due to a few days off after the 2025 All-Star break, resulting in a two-day placement on the restricted list. Marte’s home in Arizona had been burglarized during the offseason, but some teammates were reportedly irritated that he flew home to the Dominican Republic and missed the first series of the second half. Manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen generally supported him publicly. Mars apologized. He was in trade rumors over the winter, but the D-Backs made a high ask and stopped taking calls in early January to focus on adding to the 2026 roster. He earned full non-trade rights in early April upon reaching 10 years of service. The Diamondbacks are one game away from a wild card spot. Marte hasn’t been especially productive since early July and has a relatively disappointing .249/.314/.446 line in 519 plate appearances, although he leads the team with 21 home runs.
