Diamondbacks’ Torey Lovullo Sends Message After Ketel Marte News originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Second baseman Ketel Marte is in his 11th major-league season—his ninth as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Marte began his career with the Seattle Mariners, who signed him as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He debuted in 2015 and, after two seasons, was traded—alongside pitcher Taijuan Walker—to Arizona in exchange for a three-player package that included Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger.
Since then, Marte has emerged as a superstar—finishing in the top five of MVP voting in both 2019 and 2024, showcasing that his peak ranks among baseball’s very best.
In 2025, he’s maintained that elite production. Through 60 games, he’s launched 18 home runs, driven in 39 runs and is batting .300 with a .999 OPS—numbers that place him amongst MLB’s most feared hitters.
After earning the National League’s starting second-base job for the 2025 All-Star Game—his third All-Star selection—manager Torey Lovullo had strong words for the 31-year-old.
“Marte is probably going to be one of the best players I ever manage. I’m just grateful to be in the same dugout as him,” he told MLB Network Radio ahead of Arizona’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants.
“I’m just grateful I get to share a dugout with him.”
Ketel Marte has been voted in as the NL All-Star starting 2B in back-to-back years 🌟@Dbacks | #Dbacks
🔗 https://t.co/6YbqEWFvEppic.twitter.com/wPAkh3uBay— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 3, 2025
Last week, a fan’s derogatory remark about Marte’s late mother during a seventh-inning at-bat in Arizona’s 4–1 win over the Chicago White Sox left him visibly shaken. Lovullo consoled Marte during the game, underscoring the deep bond they share.
Since joining Arizona in 2017, Marte has been an integral part of the team’s success—fueling the D-backs’ run to the 2023 World Series with an NLCS MVP performance. Now, at 43–43 past the season’s midpoint and three games shy of a playoff spot, his continued dominance will be crucial down the stretch.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.