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Santo Domingo, RD. – NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns showed his support for Dominican baseball player Ketel Marte, after the latter broke down in tears on the field after receiving an offensive comment from a fan about his deceased mother.
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The emotional episode occurred on the night of Tuesday, June 24, during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox, when a fan from the stands threw a hurtful phrase related to Marte's mother, who tragically passed away in a traffic accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017. Through his account on the social network X (formerly Twitter), Towns —who also lost his mother in 2020 due to COVID-19— published a message of solidarity that quickly went viral:The Diamondbacks player's reaction was immediate and moving: visibly affected, Marte covered his face with his hands, while teammates and rivals approached to offer him comfort. Among them, the Cuban Miguel Vargas, from the White Sox, offered him a hug before Wednesday's game.“Some things should never be said. @ketel_marte4, your mother is proud, and so are we.”
MLB and D-backs Condemn the Act
The Arizona Diamondbacks organization issued a statement after the game, categorically rejecting the fan's behavior and reaffirming their commitment to respect in the stadiums:Various figures from baseball and sports in general have expressed their support for the player, who also shone that night by hitting his 15th home run of the season, despite the difficult emotional moment he was going through.“We will not tolerate any kind of disrespect towards our players or their families. Baseball must be a safe space for everyone,” the club stated.
