MLB: Rougned Odor's Punch on Jose Bautista Earns Him 8th Game Suspension
Rougned Odor's punch right on the face of Jose Bautista during a bench-clearing brawl between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays no doubt should have earned the stiffest punishment of everyone involved, and Major League Baseball is quick to respond.
According to Yahoo Sports, the main protagonists – Rougned Odor and Jose Bautista earned an eight-game and one-game suspension respectively. The Rangers second baseman was clearly retaliating after an illegal takeout slide by the Blue Jays slugger. Odor also is fined $5,000 by the league, the same report revealed.
Other than the two, four other personalities were handed out separate suspensions, while 14 players and team staff are meted out with fines. Per ABC News, Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was also suspended for one game due to what league officials described as "aggressive actions during the incident." Unlike Odor and Bautista, Andrus said that he won't be appealing the suspension.
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Perhaps one of the most unexpected actions from the brawl came from Toronto manager John Gibbons, who got a three-game suspension from the MLB due to the fact that he found a way to return to the field, where the brawl was already happening, even if he already was ejected from the game in a prior run-in with game officials. In his defense, he said that even though he already knew he eventually will be punished, he still returned to the field to protect his players and restore order.
MLB provided the details on those who were handed out undisclosed fines.
Texas Rangers
- Matt Bush, for throwing at Bautista intentionally
- AJ Griffin, for entering the field while on the DL
- Sam Dyson, for aggressive actions
- Robinson Chirinos, for entering the field while on the DL
- Bench Coach Steve Buechele, for aggressive actions
Toronto Blue Jays
- Josh Donaldson, for aggressive actions
- Kevin Pillar, for aggressive actions
- Bench Coach DeMarlo Hale, fined for his responsibilities as acting manager
MLB rules state that everyone involved in the brawl and given suspensions have the right to an appeal and may be able to continue playing until league officials come up with a decision on the appeal.
