BOSTON -- One day after Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte failed to show up at Fenway Park for Monday's game against the Red Sox and was placed on the restricted list, there is still not a lot of information known about the situation.
One new development was news that Marte was heading from Boston to Phoenix to have an MRI on his left knee.
Marte had been pulled from Friday's game with left knee soreness and sat out Saturday before returning to action Sunday, playing second base.
Typically if a player is experiencing physical issues, he would still report to the ballpark to be seen by the team's medical staff. That didn't happen Monday, nor did it seem like any teammate or club official had heard from Marte about the exact reason for his absence.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said he reached out to Marte on Monday but didn't get much back from him. Tuesday, Lovullo said he still had not been able to speak to Marte.
"I think he's headed back to Phoenix to get some get some exams done on his left knee," Lovullo said.
"That's what I've been told. But overall, my focus has shifted. My focus yesterday was squarely on this topic, but right now it's on the 26 players that are inside of the clubhouse right now. That's my responsibility and that's what we have to do in this game. We've got to shift our focuses and be present for what's most important. And the most important thing to me right now is going out win a baseball game."
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, who is probably Marte's closest friend on the team, texted him Monday and Tuesday.
"I texted him and asked him what happened, and he didn't respond to me yesterday," Perdomo said. "But today I just texted him about how his knee feels, because I know it's been bothering him since the [All-Star] break. And he told me he felt a little uncomfortable and was going to get an MRI. So, that's the conversation that we had."
Marte's agent, Charisse Espinosa-Dash, shared the following statement with MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi on Wednesday: “He is currently managing a personal matter and will be undergoing an MRI on his knee tomorrow. Ketel appreciates the unwavering support from fans, teammates, the Diamondbacks organization, and Torey Lovullo during this time. He remains optimistic about his recovery and looks forward to returning to the field to contribute to the team as soon as possible.”
Marte’s status moving forward will be a primary storyline as the Diamondbacks (66-60) remain in the NL Wild Card chase. The 32-year-old has posted a .760 OPS with 21 home runs this season. Lars Nootbaar started at DH on Monday, with utilityman Ildemaro Vargas at second base.
With Nolan Arenado battling an intercostal injury, the team had brought infielder Jose Fernandez to Boston from Triple-A Reno as a precaution in case Arenado had to go on the IL. Instead, he was added to the team in place of Marte when he went on the restricted list.
Lovullo said he was not sure if anyone in the organization had spoken with Marte on Tuesday.
It's difficult to gauge whether the Marte situation was a factor in Arizona's 11-1 loss to the Red Sox on Monday night, but Lovullo did speak to the team after the game.
"I think it was important for us to get redirected, get realigned and understand what our daily goal is," Lovullo said. "Yesterday we lost a little bit of focus. I'm not gonna lie, it was a tough day for everyone. So today's a new day. We all slept as best we could, and we walked into this clubhouse to go out there and attack the Boston Red Sox the best way we know how. And I felt like just making sure that we were all on the same page after the game last night was the most important point for me."
Arenado had an MRI on his intercostal muscle in Boston on Monday, and Lovullo was asked why Marte couldn't have an MRI on his knee in Boston instead of flying to Phoenix.
"It's not my department, I don't know the reason for that," Lovullo said. "So, I think it might have been his request to go back and see our doctors in Phoenix."