Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Ketel Marte is expected to handle his responsibilities while recovering from a knee injury after video surfaced of the infielder at a casino.
Ketel Marte’s eventful week took another turn Friday night after video surfaced on social media appearing to show the Arizona Diamondbacks infielder at a local casino while his team faced the Cincinnati Reds.
Marte is currently on the 10-day Injured List with inflammation in his left knee after an unusual sequence of events earlier in the week. He initially missed Arizona’s game against the Boston Red Sox without reporting to the ballpark and was subsequently placed on the restricted list.
After meeting with manager Torey Lovullo, general manager Mike Hazen, and his agent, Marte underwent an MRI and was moved to the Injured List.
The latest development came while the Diamondbacks were playing at home Friday. Reports and social media posts showed Marte at a casino near the team’s Salt River Fields complex as Arizona defeated Cincinnati, 9-0.
Lovullo said after the game that he was unaware of the situation and needed time to process what had occurred. However, he also explained that players on the Injured List are expected to complete their required work before being allowed to leave the team’s facilities.
According to Lovullo, players typically have an early morning routine at Salt River Fields and must complete their responsibilities with the medical staff. Once they are cleared, they are permitted to leave and spend their free time however they choose.
That was the standard Lovullo applied to Marte.
The manager said his primary concern is whether Marte reports the following morning, completes his rehab work, and remains on track with the team’s expectations. From that perspective, Lovullo indicated that Marte has considerable freedom during his personal time once his baseball responsibilities have been fulfilled.
The situation comes during an important stretch for the Diamondbacks, who are attempting to remain in the National League playoff race. Marte has been one of Arizona’s most important offensive players this season, making his absence particularly notable.
Marte has dealt with knee problems since earlier this month, and the team ultimately placed him on the Injured List after an MRI revealed inflammation. He received an injection as part of his treatment and is expected to miss at least 10 days.
The casino video adds another layer to what has already been a complicated week for the veteran infielder. Still, Lovullo indicated that his immediate focus is on Marte completing his recovery responsibilities and preparing to return to the team.
For now, the Diamondbacks will move forward without Marte as they attempt to navigate a critical portion of their season.
