The strange situation surrounding Ketel Marte appears to have taken a significant turn toward a resolution.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are transferring the star second baseman from the restricted list to the 10-day injured list, with general manager Mike Hazen indicating that Marte is expected to return to the field once he is healthy.
The move provides some clarity after several days of uncertainty surrounding Marte and his status with the team.
Marte Dealing With Knee Inflammation
According to Hazen, Marte will now be treated as an injured player rather than remaining on the restricted list. John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports that Marte is dealing with inflammation in his upper hamstring and medial joint in his left knee.
Marte was unexpectedly placed on the restricted list Monday after failing to report to Fenway Park for Arizona’s series opener against the Red Sox. The Diamondbacks initially described the situation as a personal matter.
The following day, the team revealed that Marte was returning to Phoenix to undergo imaging on his knee. The issue had already caused him to miss Saturday’s game against the Braves in Atlanta.
Marte’s agent, Charisse Dash, later provided additional context, saying Marte was managing a personal matter while preparing to undergo an MRI on his knee. She also said he remained optimistic about his recovery and wanted to return to the field as soon as possible.
Diamondbacks Meet With Marte
The situation took another step forward Wednesday when Hazen appeared on The Wolf & Luke Show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and said the organization had an in-person meeting planned with Marte Thursday at the team’s Arizona complex.
That meeting ultimately took place, with Hazen, Torey Lovullo, Marte and Dash all participating.
Now, Marte has officially been moved to the injured list, which appears to provide a much clearer path forward.
The Diamondbacks have not suggested that Marte’s season is in jeopardy, and Hazen’s comments indicate the organization expects its star second baseman to return once the knee issue is resolved.
For Arizona, that’s the most important development. After several days of questions surrounding Marte’s absence, the team now appears to have a straightforward plan: get him healthy and back on the field.
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