MLB has suspended Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta for three games for throwing at Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos on Tuesday.
Rays manager Kevin Cash was suspended for one game for the incident. Both also received undisclosed fines.
MLB announced the disciplinary action on Wednesday. The incident occurred during Philadelphia’s 9-4 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday and resulted in both benches being cleared.
With the Phillies leading 9-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Uceta’s first pitch was a 96 mph sinker that hit Castellanos in the arm. Castellanos responded by dropping his bat, taking off his gloves and confronting Uceta.
Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper was standing at second base when Castellanos was hit and immediately went to the mound. Both benches were cleared as boos rained down from the stands at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Uceta struggled in his relief pitching role and let the Phillies win the game. He entered the mound in the eighth inning with one out and runners on the corners and the game tied 4-4. He allowed a double by Cal Stevenson that scored two runs and gave the Phillies a 6-4 lead.
He then struck out Garrett Stubs before allowing a single to Buddy Kennedy that scored Stevenson. Trea Turner hit a two-run home run that extended the Phillies’ lead to 9-4. Uceta then allowed a double to Bryce Harper before hitting Castellanos with the pitch. Uceta was removed from the field after allowing three earned runs and getting a single out.
Castellanos compares Uceta to his toddler
Castellanos addressed the incident in a conversation with reporters after the game.
“He was mad because his ERA was through the roof… And you want to throw that at someone? That’s like my two-year-old throwing a tantrum because I took away his dessert before he finished it.” – Nick Castellanos on Edwin Uceta pic.twitter.com/AsZ12NPcEl
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) 11 September 2024
“I came into the box, didn’t even swing, because I thought there was a chance that could happen and it happened,” Castellanos said.
When asked if he had a dispute with Uceta, he said no.
“Other than that I had this overwhelming feeling that I was about to get fucked,” Castellanos continued. “I can’t explain it. I know he had relatively good numbers when he went in there.”
“I was just watching him and I could see him getting frustrated and exhausting himself. I thought to myself, I’m going to take this pitch here to see if he’s anywhere near the plate. And he wasn’t even anywhere near the plate.”
Castellanos then talked about his reaction when he was hit by the pitch.
“I just told him that was bullshit,” Castellanos continued. “You throw a baseball over 90 miles per hour and you’re frustrated. You want to throw it at someone? That’s like my two-year-old throwing a tantrum because I took away his dessert before he finishes it.”
Uceta told reporters after the game that he did not intentionally throw at Castellanos.
The Phillies and Rays will finish their three-game series on Wednesday, with the Rays without the services of Cash or Uceta unless the suspensions are appealed.
