By Field Level Media
Aug 25 (Field Level Media) - Ketel Marte could be back in the Arizona lineup early next week, Diamondbacksmanager Torey Lovullo said Monday.
Marte hasn't played since failing to show up for the team's game in Boston onAug. 17. Lovullo said at the time that the Diamondbacks didn't know where thestar second baseman was, and the club subsequently placed him on therestricted list.
Marte left Boston and returned to Phoenix, where he underwent an MRI thatrevealed inflammation in his left knee.
He and his agent met in person withDiamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen and Lovullo on Thursday, and the teamreinstated Marte from the restricted list and transferred him to the 10-dayinjured list.
He could be back as soon as the opener of a three-game series against thevisiting Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 31.
"That's what we're thinking about," Lovullo said. "I think that will be the10th day or the 11th day, so there is definitely a strategy to get him back onthe field, get him healthy."
Lovullo said of Marte's rehab work on Monday, "He hit in the lab. He was doinga lot more baseball activity. He was finally cleared to take some (battingpractice) today, so very encouraging. ... He's going to have several days togo out and continue to get that build-up and be as ready as possible."
Marte generated more headlines on Friday when multiple photos and videosshowed him playing roulette at a casino in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the same timethe Diamondbacks were playing a home game.
Lovullo, asked about it that night, said of Marte, "He's free to do whateverhe wants. That's how I look at it. As long as he wakes up tomorrow morning andposts and gets his work done at (the team's training facility), which I amcertain he will, that's all that matters to me right now."
Marte, 32, is batting .249 with a .314 on-base percentage, a .446 sluggingpercentage, 21 homers and 67 RBIs through 118 games this year. The three-timeAll-Star has a .278/.348/.470 career batting line with 192 homers and 654 RBIsin 1,348 games with the Seattle Mariners (2015-16) and Arizona.
(--Field Level Media)
