Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte said a fan in Chicago who brought him to tears during a game against the White Sox this week shouted that he messaged his late mother the previous night.
The two-time All-Star revealed what was said during an interview with Spanish-language journalist Yancen Pujols.
“A fan was up on the dugout shouting things about my mother,” he said. "He was like, ‘Last night I sent a message to your mother.’”
Marte was seen in tears on the field after the 22-year-old spectator yelled a derogatory comment about Marte’s late mother during a seventh-inning at-bat in Arizona’s 4-1 win over Chicago on Tuesday night. Major League Baseball banned the fan indefinitely from all stadiums the following day.
Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017. He said he's used to being taunted, but had never been heckled about his mom. He said what made it more painful for him was the Diamondbacks were in Chicago to play the Cubs when she died.
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The Chicago White Sox display a sign on the big screen in support of Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte (4) during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Fans show support for Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte (4) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte (4) fouls off the ball during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A jarring flagrant foul knocked Cooper Flagg awkwardly to the floor and eventually out of the game Friday night.
Now it's unclear whether the Dallas star will miss any more time.
Last season's NBA Rookie of the Year did not play in the second half of Dallas' 121-105 victory Friday night over the Indiana Pacers after landing hard on his left shoulder after Aaron Nesmith tried to block his shot from behind to prevent a breakaway dunk.
Instead, Flagg landed hard on his shoulder.
“Cooper has left shoulder soreness, he'll be evaluated in the next couple of days,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said before addressing whether Flagg needed an MRI. “I really don't know. I saw him in the locker room, he's in good spirits. We'll know in the next couple days what's next.”
Flagg did not speak to reporters following the game.
He was off to a fast start in his second pro season. Two days after scoring 32 points to become the highest scoring teenager in a season opener in league history, Flagg was on pace for his first triple double of the season. He finished with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes.
But it was how he left that had everyone talking and scuffling as Mavericks players came to the defense of their hurting teammate.
Forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith under the basket, drawing players from both teams into a brief fray. After a replay review, the refs assessed double technical fouls to Nesmith and Marshall. Flagg then made 1 of 2 free throws and continued to rub his shoulder as he walked toward the locker room.
Two Mavericks players also appeared to leave the bench though May said he thought both went to check on Flagg, perhaps avoiding any disciplinary action from the league.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy, a heck of a player. I've known him since he was in high school," said May, who reached two NCAA Final Fours and won last year's national championship just a few blocks away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully, Coop's fine.”
Another brief scuffle broke out between the teams near midcourt in the second half though it led to technicals or flagrant fouls. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle noted that Indiana has now played two games that have resulted in multiple scuffles.
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Players from the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers scuffle after a hard foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
