Rougned Odor suspended 8 games for punching Jose Bautista
Major League Baseball has announced disciplinary action for 14 players and staff members involved in Sunday night's violent eighth-inning brawl between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.
Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor was fined and suspended eight games for punching Jays slugger Jose Bautista in the face. Bautista, who will also pay an undisclosed fine, was issued a one-game suspension for his actions during the incident and for his postgame comments.
Both Odor and Bautista will appeal their suspensions.
Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Chavez was fined and suspended three games for intentionally throwing at Prince Fielder after a warning had been issued earlier in the inning.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons got a three-game suspension for his role in the brawl, while first base coach Tim Leiper received one game.
Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was fined and given a one-game suspension, which he will serve Tuesday night when the Rangers face the Athletics in Oakland.
MLB also issued a number of undisclosed fines to both sides for various infractions stemming from the altercation.
Members of the Blue Jays hit with fines include third baseman Josh Donaldson and outfielder Kevin Pillar, who were penalized for aggressive actions, plus bench coach Demarlo Hale, who, as acting manager, received standard discipline for the actions of Chavez after warnings were issued.
On the Rangers side, pitchers Matt Bush and Sam Dyson, along with bench coach Steve Buechele, will pay up for aggressive actions, while pitcher A.J. Griffin and catcher Robinson Chirinos were fined for being on the field while on the DL.
The fight was ignited when Odor took issue with what he believed to be a late slide by Bautista at second base. The two began chirping back and forth until Odor got in Bautista's face, then pushed the Blue Jays star. As Bautista charged back, Odor wound up and punched him square in the jaw.
The problems started before that, in the first at-bat of the eighth inning, when Bautista was hit in the ribs by a pitch from Texas reliever Matt Bush. The pitch was thought to be retaliation from when Bautista famously flipped his bat after hitting a three-run homer during Game 5 of last year's AL Division Series.
Odor was unapologetic about the fight when speaking with reporters on Monday.
"I think I just play the game how I play," he said. I just play the game to win games. I know I'm going to be suspended for a couple games. I'm just going to keep doing what I do."
Odor's presence in the the Rangers lineup will be missed if his suspension is upheld. He is hitting .278/.305/.487 with two doubles, seven homers and five stolen bases so far this season.
Bautista on the other hand, is having a down year so far with Toronto. A former two-time AL home runs leader, Bautista is hitting .223/.371/.446 with six home runs in 40 games.
