Arizona Diamondbacks Transfer Second Baseman Ketel Marte to Injured List

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks are moving second baseman Ketel Marte to the 10-day injured list, shifting him off the restricted list three days after he failed to report for a scheduled game in Boston.

Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen confirmed on Thursday that Marte is being placed on the injured list to address an issue with his left knee. Hazen stated that the infielder will remain sidelined and will only rejoin the active roster once he has fully recovered from the injury.

Marte, a three-time Major League Baseball All-Star, left the team during its series in Boston and traveled back to Phoenix on Tuesday to undergo medical testing on his knee. The circumstances surrounding his initial absence caused confusion within the organization. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged that he struggled to gather clear communication and information from the veteran player throughout the entire situation.

The roster move comes at a crucial point in the regular season for Arizona. The Diamondbacks are actively competing for a spot in the Major League Baseball postseason, holding a 67-61 record. Arizona sits just one game behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot. The team is aiming to make its first return to the postseason since reaching the World Series in 2023.

Prior to his absence, Marte had been a key contributor to the Diamondbacks’ lineup this year. Over the course of the current season, he has recorded a .249 batting average, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 67 runs.

This is not the first time Marte has experienced an unexplained or sudden absence from the team. During the previous season, the Diamondbacks placed him on the restricted list after a break-in took place at his home in Arizona during the All-Star break. Marte subsequently flew to his native Dominican Republic, missing three games before returning to Phoenix and issuing an apology to the team for his absence.

By placing Marte on the 10-day injured list, the Diamondbacks gain flexibility to manage their active roster while Marte continues his medical examinations and recovery in Arizona. The team management has not established a specific calendar or target date for when he will be cleared to resume full baseball activities.

Background

Major League Baseball utilizes specific administrative designations to manage player availability. The restricted list allows teams to remove a player from the active roster without paying them or granting accrued service time, typically used in cases of unexcused absences, non-baseball legal issues, or personal matters. In contrast, the 10-day injured list permits teams to temporarily replace an injured player on the 26-man active roster while keeping them on the official contract list, provided the player undergoes medical treatment or rehabilitation.