Pirates RHP Dennis Santana suspended 4 games over fan interaction

June 20 - Major League Baseball gave Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana a four-game suspension on Friday for "his aggressive conduct toward a fan" that saw him take a swing at someone heckling him from behind the bullpen.
Santana's suspension was set to begin Friday, but the pitcher has elected to appeal the discipline.
Santana's run-in with the fan took place during the second game of a doubleheader at the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. A Tigers spokesperson confirmed to news outlets that the fan was ejected from the park.
Video of the incident posted to social media showed Santana leave his feet and take a swing at the fan who was standing over the railing. A Pirates coach ran in to guide Santana away from the stands.
Speaking via an interpreter after the game, Santana explained that the fan "crossed the line too many times" but that it didn't justify his own actions. He declined to say what the fan did or said to him.
"You guys know me and know my temper," Santana said. "I'm a calm person. They just crossed the line a few times. I would like to leave it like that."
Santana later entered that game and faced one batter before a rain delay interrupted the game.
Santana, 29, is in his first full season with Pittsburgh after the Pirates selected him off waivers from the New York Yankees in June 2024. In parts of eight MLB seasons for five clubs, Santana is 13-16 with nine saves and a 4.38 ERA across 237 appearances (one start).
--Field Level Media

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Herald Scotland

18 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

Rays' Hunter Bigge hit by line drive while in dugout, carted off

Concern was obvious from everyone on the field. The Orioles' broadcast said the ball left Rutschman's bat at 105 mph. Bigge was placed onto a backboard and taken from the field on a cart. He was wearing a neck brace and appeared to be bleeding significantly, per photos from the scene. He did give a thumbs-up to the crowd and Cash told reporters that Bigge never lost consciousness. Cash said that Bigge was struck on the side of his face. Horrible scene in Tampa, as Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was hit in the face by a 105 mph foul ball while in the dugout. He was stretchered off the field and gave a thumbs up as he exited. Kevin Brown on the Orioles TV call for MASN. #MLB — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 20, 2025 Bigge was taken to a local hospital. "He's coherent. He's talking to the physician. He's going to have a lot of tests over right now. I think he's getting some tests done, and probably throughout the night," Cash said after the game, via Rays TV reporter Ryan Bass. This story has been updated with new information.

Reuters

19 minutes ago

• Reuters

Bayern restore measure of European pride with Boca win to reach last 16

MIAMI, June 20 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich reignited the flickering flame of European honour at the Club World Cup, battling through a tense, fiery showdown to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors and storm into the last 16 on Friday. Backed by a roaring sea of blue-and-yellow clad fans who turned the Hard Rock Stadium into a noisy outpost of their "Bombonera", Boca Juniors fought fiercely, but Bayern's resilience shone through in the closing stages. After Harry Kane gave the German champions an early lead, Boca equalised through Miguel Merentiel, only for Michael Olise to score a late winner that lifted Bayern to the top of Group C on six points, two ahead of Benfica. Boca, on one point, remain in contention as they face amateurs Auckland City in the last round of matches while Bayern will take on Benfica.

Reuters

24 minutes ago

• Reuters

Wisconsin sues Miami over transfer tampering in a legal first

June 21 - The University of Wisconsin sued the University of Miami on Friday, formally accusing the Florida school of tampering with a football player under a financial contract with the Badgers. The decision to sue could become a watershed moment in the current era of college athletics. Never before has a university accused another of tampering with one of its athletes, who did not have contracts before the dawn of name, image and likeness rights this decade. "While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field," the school said in a statement provided to ESPN on Friday. Though Wisconsin's lawsuit only refers to the player as Student Athlete A, the subject of the case is cornerback Xavier Lucas, who left Wisconsin and enrolled at Miami over the winter without ever entering the transfer portal. It was reported at the time that Wisconsin refused to put Lucas' name in the transfer portal. Lucas signed a two-year contract with the Badgers in December 2024 -- a deal that gave the football program nonexclusive rights to use his NIL but also prohibited him from committing to enroll or participate in athletics at another school. Lucas enrolled at Miami in January. Wisconsin's lawsuit alleges that a Miami staffer and a prominent alumnus of the school met with Lucas and his family and offered him money to transfer. --Field Level Media