Fan who taunted DBacks' Ketel Marte about mom at game against Sox banned from all ballparks: source

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 22-year-old fan has been banned indefinitely from all MLB ballparks after yelling something about Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte's late mother during Tuesday night's game against the Chicago White Sox, according to a source.

Marte, 31, was brought to tears by the incident, which occurred while he was at bat in the seventh inning. Marte's mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017.

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Team personnel, including Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, heard the comment and asked for the fan to be ejected. According to a source familiar with the situation, the fan was remorseful for his actions, admitting to his inappropriate comments.

"We commend the White Sox for taking immediate action in removing the fan," said MLB in a statement.

Marte declined comment after the game Tuesday. It's not publicly known what the fan said to upset the 11-year veteran.

"Ugly, it doesn't belong in baseball. I hope he's never allowed at a game again," Sox fan Corey Blakney said.

White Sox Manager Will Venable says he sent a message to the Diamondbacks organization Tuesday night, apologizing for the fan's behavior.

He says there's no place for that behavior in baseball or in society.

"There's no place for it in baseball. There's no place for it anywhere. We've become a society that's very mean," Diamondbacks fan Mikell Drobac said.

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Marte took the field before Wednesday's game to a strong show of support from White Sox players and fans. He got a hug and words of support from Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas.

The baseball community, including his manager, is supporting Marte in the aftermath of what was clearly an emotional night for him at the ballpark.

"At the end of the day, we're human beings. We have emotions. I saw him hurting," Lovullo said.

Many fans held signs of support for Marte during his first at-bat Wednesday.

And the White Sox put a message on the jumbotron, saying baseball is family. The White Sox community supports Ketel Marte.

"This guy is just out here trying to do his job, make a living. It's unfair to go after him like that," Sox fan Aiden Clark said.

No one has publicly identified the fan.

It's not the first incident this season of a fan yelling something inappropriate at a player on the field.

In April, a fan in Cleveland yelled at Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran after the player shared in a documentary that he had attempted suicide three years ago. The fan was ejected and banned from the ballpark after that incident as well.

The White Sox beat the Diamondbacks in the series finale Wednesday afternoon at Rate Field, ending the series 1-2.

ESPN's Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.