MLB suspends Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez for five games following pitch incident
The penalty, initially set at six games, was reduced following an agreement between the league and the players' association, while manager A.J. Hinch received a one-game ban for his role in the altercation.
Major League Baseball has disciplined Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez with a five-game suspension and a fine after he was ejected for throwing a pitch at Boston Red Sox player Trevor Story. The incident occurred during a 10-2 loss for Detroit, a contest in which Valdez allowed a career-high 10 runs. Although the league initially banned the pitcher for six games, the penalty was reduced to five following an agreement between MLB and the players' association.
Valdez has denied that the delivery was intentional, stating that an unfamiliar four-seam fastball slipped from his hand rather than being aimed at the batter. He noted that he had not thrown a four-seam fastball since August of the previous year, when he previously hit Ceddanne Rafaela. The specific pitch that struck Story was a 94.4 mph offering thrown between the numbers on Story's back.
The altercation unfolded following a chaotic sequence where Willson Contreras hit a home run on the first pitch of the fourth inning, and Wilyer Abreu followed with a 109.1 mph home run. Home plate umpire Adam Beck and catcher Dillon Dingler intervened to separate Story from the mound, leading to benches clearing from both dugouts. There was no physical contact between Valdez and Story, and exchanges were described as having few harsh words.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch was also suspended for one game for his role in the altercation. Hinch stated that disruptions of play involving a player being ejected for throwing at someone do not come for free. The Tigers are currently missing three starting pitchers due to injury: Tarik Skubal with an elbow issue, Casey Mize with a hamstring injury, and Justin Verlander with a hip problem.
Valdez began serving the suspension on Wednesday night and is expected to be eligible to pitch against the New York Mets later in the week, barring rainouts. This marks the second time in recent history Valdez has been accused of intentionally hitting a player; he previously denied intentionally hitting his own catcher, César Salazar, in September of the prior season.
