Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte was placed on the restricted list on Friday. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Marte requested a few days off after a break-in at his Phoenix-area home during the All-Star Game.
“His family is fine,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said before Friday’s game. “His wife, his children, he is fine. He’s obviously dealing with something that was very, very invasive. For those of us that have been robbed, it’s a tough thing to work through, so we’re going to give him the time that he needs.”
Marte, 31, was in Atlanta for the Midsummer Classic when his home was burglarized on July 15. Police said no one was at the home in Paradise Valley, Ariz. There were signs of forced entry, and numerous personal items and jewelry pieces were missing, according to police.
The break-in is the latest in a string of high-profile robberies involving athletes’ homes. Those who’ve had their homes burglarized include players in the NBA (Mike Conley Jr., Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Dončić and Bobby Portis), NFL (Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow and Linval Joseph) and NHL (Tyler Seguin and Evgeni Malkin).
“Unfortunately, these athletes and their private homes, they’re targeted for going out there and doing their jobs,” said River Hills (Wis.) police chief Michael Gaynor, who was involved with the handling of Portis’ burglary case. “We all know when they go to work, and we know their schedules and where they’re gonna be. And unfortunately, that makes their private homes targets.”
(Photo: Joe Rondone / The Republic / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)