Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte It was a weird day on Monday for the Arizona Diamondbacks, to say the least. The Diamondbacks flew to Boston to kick off a three-game series against the Red Sox. First pitch was scheduled for just after 7 p.m. ET. Typically, you see teams announce their starting lineups hours ahead of time. On Monday, the Diamondbacks had to wait until the buzzer to get their official lineup in. That is because of the absence of superstar infielder Ketel Marte. Marte flew to Boston with the Diamondbacks, but he didn't show up to Fenway Park on Monday.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand! No, you didn't read that incorrectly. He simply didn't show up. As a result, the Diamondbacks placed him on the restricted list. Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic/Azcentral Sports reported the news. "Ketel Marte has been placed on the restricted list. Jose Fernandez has been recalled," Piecoro wrote.
Ketel Marte has been placed on the restricted list. Jose Fernandez has been recalled. — Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) August 17, 2026
Piecoro also reported that the Diamondbacks had hoped right up until game time that Marte would show up. But, he just didn't. "Marte arrived here in Boston with the team. The club had hoped until shortly before game time that he was going to show up to the park. He had been expected to serve as the designated hitter for tonight's game," Piecoro wrote. "To be clear: I’m told Ketel Marte is doing OK physically, he just didn’t show up to the ballpark tonight." At the end of the day, this is the beginning of the story, not the end. It's not often you see a story like this. It has led to some wild rumors on social media about a potential DFA, but that isn't confirmed — or likely. More MLB: Shohei Ohtani Watch Begins For Los Angeles Dodgers