Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta has been handed a three-game suspension and fined for deliberately targeting Nick Castellanos of the Philadelphia Phillies. The incident occurred on Wednesday night, leading to significant repercussions for Uceta. The suspension and fine were imposed by Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations, following Uceta’s intentional pitch at Castellanos.
Rays manager Kevin Cash also faced disciplinary action. He was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount. Cash’s suspension began with the Rays’ game in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening. If Uceta chooses to appeal the decision, the suspension would be temporarily halted until the appeal process is completed.
The controversial pitch happened during the eighth inning of a tied game. Uceta entered the game with the score knotted at 4-4, facing a challenging situation with runners on second and third base and one out. The inning saw significant offensive action from the Phillies, with Cal Stevenson hitting a two-run double, Buddy Kennedy adding an RBI single, Trea Turner smashing a two-run homer, and Bryce Harper hitting his third double of the game.
Amidst this, Uceta’s next pitch hit Castellanos near his left hip, sparking immediate tension on the field. Castellanos reacted by pointing at Uceta and shouting, which led to benches clearing. Uceta was subsequently ejected by umpire crew chief James Hoye, who also issued warnings to both teams.
Following the Phillies’ 9-4 victory, Castellanos expressed his frustration, likening Uceta’s actions to a child’s tantrum. He remarked, “You’re frustrated and you’re going to throw at somebody. That’s like my 2-year-old throwing a fit because I take away his dessert before he’s finished.” Castellanos, who has been hit by pitches nine times this season and 49 times throughout his career, noted that he anticipated a possibility of being targeted. “I got into the box, I wasn’t even swinging because I felt there was a chance that that could happen and it happened. I think that he was just (angry) that his numbers got messed up,” Castellanos added.
The situation underscores the ongoing tensions in baseball and the strict enforcement of discipline for actions deemed to be intentionally aggressive.
