Scottsdale, Arizona – Just as Ketel Marte was shining on the All-Star Game stage in Atlanta with a double that brought two precious points to the National League, thousands of miles away, a shadow was quietly creeping into his private life.
Mansion Burglary While Owner Is Away
On the night of July 15, as the entire United States watched MLB stars compete, Ketel Marte’s mansion in Scottsdale, Arizona became the target of what police have identified as a “high-end home invasion with a high value.” According to initial reports, the burglar broke into the house when there was absolutely no one inside. Several pieces of jewelry and valuable personal belongings were taken. Police are investigating, but the identity of the perpetrator has not yet been determined.
Aggravated by personal tragedy
The break-in comes at a time when Marte is still reeling from a heartbreaking incident in June. While playing in Chicago, he was in tears after a fan insulted his late mother, Elpidia Valdez. MLB later banned the fan for life, but Marte’s emotional wounds remain.
Shine on the field, fall inside
Despite the trauma, Ketel Marte is having an impressive season: he has a .290 batting average, 19 home runs and 40 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 165 – a remarkable achievement for the Arizona Diamondbacks. But the glory of the field is not enough to obscure the fragility behind the lights: a player, a son, a father who has just lost the sense of security in his own home.
A wave of crime targeting the sports world
The Ketel Marte home burglary is not an isolated incident. Over the past year, a series of major sports stars such as Luka Dončić, Joe Burrow, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes have all become victims of organized burglaries. The FBI has warned since late 2024 about the existence of sophisticated South American criminal gangs that monitor athletes’ schedules to break into their homes when they are not at home. In February 2025 alone, seven Chilean citizens were arrested in the US in connection with this series of burglaries.
Uncertain future
The Arizona Diamondbacks are currently outside the playoffs, but there is still hope before the end of the season. But with a troubled mind and a heart torn apart by personal pain, can Ketel Marte continue to lead the team forward?
When the spotlight goes out, when the cheers fade away… a player is just a human being. And on the night of July 15, between the heights of fame and the depths of uncertainty, Ketel Marte experienced both – in the same moment.
“I left everything on that field… only to come home to find everything else taken.” – Ketel Marte, quietly shared after the All-Star game.