Marte dismisses 'burning bridges' hat as coincidence

Ketel Marte told The Athletic he did not know the meaning of the neon green hat he wore after returning to the Diamondbacks, saying he simply put it on without reading the message. The hat, which read 'May the bridges I burn light the way,' went viral after Marte was booed in his first game back from a two-week absence. Manager Torey Lovullo interpreted the message as a sign of accountability, but Marte insisted it carried no special significance.

Marte's Monday return to Chase Field was his first appearance since being placed on the restricted list in mid-August, capping a 13-game absence that began with a no-show at Fenway Park. Three of those games were served without pay. Before taking the field, he met with teammates and apologized, describing the incident as a "moment of frustration."

The Diamondbacks fell 2-1 in his return, with Marte going 1-for-3 plus a walk. He was again in the lineup as designated hitter Tuesday, with second base duties expected to resume Wednesday against Philadelphia or Friday at Houston. The episode extends a pattern spanning four seasons in which Marte has gone AWOL from the organization, according to the report.