Arizona’s three-time All-Star reportedly traveled to Boston with the team but did not arrive at the ballpark for Monday night’s series opener
BOSTON — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed star infielder Ketel Marte on the restricted list Monday after he reportedly failed to report to Fenway Park for the team’s game against the Boston Red Sox. Arizona announced the unexpected roster move shortly before the August 17 matchup. The club also recalled infielder José Fernández from Triple-A Reno to fill the available roster spot. The circumstances surrounding Marte’s absence were not immediately clear.
Marte Reportedly Did Not Arrive at Fenway
According to Diamondbacks beat reporter Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic, Marte had traveled to Boston with the team and was initially expected to serve as Arizona’s designated hitter in the opening game of the series. Piecoro reported that Marte was physically fine but simply did not arrive at Fenway Park as expected. With Marte unavailable, Lars Nootbaar was moved into the designated hitter role. Fernández, meanwhile, was inserted into Arizona’s lineup at third base and placed seventh in the batting order following his promotion from Triple-A.
Restricted List Raises Questions
Placement on Major League Baseball’s restricted list is different from a trip to the injured list. Teams can use the designation in certain circumstances when a player is unavailable for reasons unrelated to a baseball injury. Players on the restricted list generally do not occupy a spot on their team’s active roster and typically do not receive salary for the period they remain on the list. The Diamondbacks did not immediately provide a detailed public explanation for Marte’s absence beyond announcing the roster transaction. As a result, questions remained Monday night about why Marte did not report to the stadium and how long he might remain away from the team.
A Major Player in Arizona’s Lineup
Marte’s absence is significant for Arizona. The Dominican-born infielder is a three-time MLB All-Star and has established himself as one of the Diamondbacks’ most important offensive players. His unexpected absence comes as Arizona continues through the second half of the 2026 season and every roster decision becomes increasingly important in the race for postseason positioning. Marte also missed three games during the previous season following an incident involving a fan, making his latest absence particularly noticeable.
For now, however, the Diamondbacks have offered few details about what led to Monday’s decision. Until either the organization or Marte provides additional information, the reason behind his failure to appear at Fenway Park—and when he might return to Arizona’s lineup remains uncertain.
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