'Player's unauthorized departure left the manager in tears' — Shocking incident: Marte was said to have left for a knee examination...

*This content was translated by AI.

A player suddenly left the team, and despite the manager's persistent attempts to contact him, the reason could not be confirmed. Ultimately, the manager even shed tears while expressing his affection, but since the reason for the departure was hard to accept, it is expected to cause a stir.

U.S. sports outlet ESPN reported on the 19th (Korean time) that "Ketel Marte (33, Arizona Diamondbacks) returned to Phoenix after leaving for a knee examination."

Torii Robles (61), the Arizona manager, said he learned that Marte had returned to Phoenix for a left knee checkup and expressed some surprise over the lack of communication with the All-Star second baseman.

Earlier on the 18th, Arizona traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, for an away game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. While Marte joined the team for the trip, he did not appear on the field on game day.

In response, Arizona placed Marte on the restricted list. This is a severe measure that prevents him from receiving his salary, suggesting that the team took the situation very seriously.

It was difficult to easily grasp what had happened. Manager Robles could not hide his deep concern for his player. After entering the press conference room following a 1-11 defeat, Robles said, "It was truly a chaotic day. Aside from knowing that Marte is dealing with personal issues, I know nothing else. We are also trying to figure out what happened." He added, "Because he did not show up at the stadium, we ultimately placed him on the restricted list. This is all I know right now; things will become clearer as time passes."

Manager Robles attempted to contact Marte directly to understand his situation but received no response. It could not be inferred from past issues such as the player's unreliability or lack of commitment. In front of reporters, Robles broke down in tears and said, "I truly love him and worry about him greatly. I hope he will be okay, and I want to believe he is safe right now. I wish everyone knew how much all the players and coaching staff in the locker room care for him."

It is entirely understandable if he moved on his own to seek treatment for knee pain. However, leaving without informing the team at all is hard to accept.

During this process, the manager grew worried that something might have happened to his player and even shed tears, yet Marte did not send any message despite the manager's contact attempts.

Marte's unauthorized departure is not his first. During last season's All-Star break, a burglary occurred at his Arizona home. Without notifying the team, he suddenly returned to his home country, the Dominican Republic, and missed three games. The team had placed him on the restricted list at that time. Marte eventually apologized for the incident, but when the same thing happened again within two years, the team once again placed him on the restricted list. It remains uncertain what disciplinary action he may face from the organization.

Arizona currently sits third in the National League West, but it still has a strong chance of reaching the postseason through wild card competition. In 118 games this season, Marte has recorded a .249 batting average (469 at-bats, 117 hits), 21 home runs, 67 RBIs, 65 runs scored, a .314 on-base percentage, a .446 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.760. He is an essential player for the team.

Manager Robles shares the same view. According to ESPN, when asked whether he thinks Marte will be able to play for Arizona again this year, Robles replied, "I hope so," and praised him by saying, "We need him. As far as I know, he is one of the best players in the National League."

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*This content was translated by AI.