Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez has been suspended 5 game by Major League Baseball for intentionally hitting Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story on Tuesday.
MLB initially suspended Valdez for 6 games, but reduced it to 5 upon appeal. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch has also been suspended for 1 game by the league, a decision which cannot be appealed under current league rules. As a result he will miss Wednesday night’s game vs. Boston.
Both parties were fined an undisclosed amount.
As previously reported, Detroit is already down three starting pitchers due to injury. Tarik Skubal (elbow), Casey Mize (hamstring) and Justin Verlander (hip) are all on the injured list, meaning that the team will need to get creative to replace Valdez’s next turn through the rotation.
“We play a really good brand of baseball here. That didn’t feel like it,” Hinch told reporters after the game. “It’s not judging intent; I have no idea. But I know when you go out on the field and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you’re in your right. And it didn’t feel good being out there.”
“So, I understand [Boston’s] frustrations. I understand the moment, and it was a low moment of a frustrating night.”
The two sides will wrap up their series on Wednesday night, after which Boston will head home to open a 3 game series vs. the Rays on Friday, while the Tigers will travel to Kansas City to being an AL Central showdown vs. the Royals.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.