Baseball player Victor Robles from the Mariners, in a rehab game, flings his bat towards the pitcher after being hit; subsequently, issues an apology for the incident.
Victor Robles Suspended for 10 Games Following Bat-Throwing Incident
Victor Robles, the Seattle Mariners outfielder, has been handed a 10-game suspension by Major League Baseball (MLB) after an incident during a Triple-A rehab game on Sunday.
The suspension stems from an altercation with Joey Estes, a pitcher from the Las Vegas Aviators, who is part of the Oakland Athletics organisation. In the third inning of the game, Robles fouled off an 89.9 mph fastball that came close to hitting his shoulder. Frustrated, Robles threw his bat in Estes' direction, leading to his immediate ejection.
This incident marked the fourth time Robles had been hit by a pitch during his rehab stint with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. In the five games leading up to the incident, he had been hit three times, with Estes responsible for two of those instances.
Robles had been rehabbing a dislocated left shoulder he sustained in April, and the suspension will delay his return to Major League play. The suspension will start once Robles is reinstated to the Major League roster, but it is currently on appeal, causing a delay in its enforcement.
Robles has since apologised for his actions, posting an apology on his Instagram story. He acknowledged that his frustration got the better of him and expressed remorse for any negative impact on the game and the energy and respect maintained by the team.
The suspension and incident serve as a reminder of MLB's stance against dangerous conduct such as bat throwing. Historically, MLB has suspended players for bat-throwing incidents to maintain on-field safety and sportsmanship. Notably, Delmon Young was famously suspended for throwing a bat during his career. Robles' 10-game suspension aligns with past MLB disciplinary actions for similar conduct, indicating consistency in how MLB addresses bat-throwing incidents.
Before the incident, Robles had signed with the Seattle Mariners after being released by the Washington Nationals. He had a successful 2024 season with the Mariners, hitting .328/.393/.467 with four homers and 30 steals in 77 games. The Mariners had even signed Robles to a contract extension last August that includes a $9 million club option for 2027.
During his absence, Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodriguez will continue to be mainstays in the Seattle Mariners outfield, with Dominic Canzone primarily playing right field during Robles' absence. The Mariners enter play on Monday in wild card position and 1 ½ games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West.
The suspension will cause the Mariners to play one man short during the ten-game period, and the team's plans to recall Robles will likely be altered due to the suspension. The team will need to find a suitable replacement for Robles until he serves his suspension and returns to the team.
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