Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dennis Santana has been issued a four-game suspension and an undisclosed fine by Major League Baseball for “aggressive conduct toward a fan” from the visitors’ bullpen at Comerica Park during Thursday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
Santana is appealing the suspension and will be available to pitch for Friday’s matchup with the Texas Rangers.
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The incident in question occurred during the second game of a doubleheader. Santana was filmed by several onlookers in the left-field stands jumping up to slap at a fan above the visitors’ bullpen in the seventh inning. The fan was ejected from the ballpark after the altercation, The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen reported.
Santana was not removed from the game and was the pitcher of record in the ninth inning when the game was delayed by rain for over an hour. He finished with one-third of an inning before being replaced by David Bednar after the delay with the score tied at 4-4. Pittsburgh went on to an 8-4 win, splitting the doubleheader with Detroit.
Following the game, Santana addressed the incident, saying that the fan “crossed the line a few times.”
“You guys know me — I’m a calm demeanor type of person,” Santana said through Pirates translator Stephen Morales, via the Associated Press. “I’ve never had any issues for any of the teams I’ve played for. This guy crossed the line a few times.”
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Santana did not specify what the fan said to provoke him, but said that he told Pirates manager Don Kelly that he regretted what happened.
The suspension comes amid Santana having the best season of his eight-year career. He has a 1.72 ERA and five saves in 32 appearances, compiling 25 strikeouts and five walks in 31 1/3 innings. The veteran reliever is sure to be a popular target by playoff contenders at the MLB trade deadline.
MLB’s four-game penalty is in line with the suspension issued two seasons ago to Los Angeles Angels infielder Anthony Rendon. Rendon confronted a fan in the stands as he was leaving the field, eventually reaching to grab the spectator by the shirt. He was originally issued a five-game suspension, which was reduced to four games on appeal.
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