MLB has suspended Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta three games for throwing at Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos Tuesday night.
Rays manager Kevin Cash received a one-game suspension for the incident. Both also received undisclosed fines.
MLB announced the discipline on Wednesday. The incident took place during Philadelphia’s 9-4 win over Tampa Bay Tuesday night and resulted in both benches clearing.
With the Phillies leading 9-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Uceta threw a 96 mph first-pitch sinker inside that hit Castellanos on his arm. Castellanos responded by dropping his bat, taking off his gloves and confronting Uceta.
Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper was at second base when Castellanos was hit and immediately walked toward the mound. Both benches cleared as boos rained down from the stands at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.
Uceta had been struggling in his relief appearance, allowing the Phillies to blow the game open. He took the mound in the bottom of the eighth with one out and runners on the corners and the game tied at 4-4. He allowed a double to Cal Stevenson that scored two runs and gave the 6-4 Phillies lead.
He struck out Garrett Stubs before allowing a single to Buddy Kennedy that scored Stevenson. Trea Turner then hit a two-run home run that ballooned the Phillies’ lead to 9-4. Uceta then allowed a double to Bryce Harper before hitting Castellanos with a pitch. Uceta was ejected having allowed three earned runs while recording a single out.
Castellanos compares Uceta to his toddler
Castellanos addressed the incident postgame while speaking with reporters.
“He was pissed off that his ERA shot through the roof… And you’re gonna throw at somebody? That’s like my two year old throwing a fit because I take his dessert before he’s finished.” -Nick Castellanos on Edwin Uceta pic.twitter.com/AsZ12NPcEl
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 11, 2024
“I got into the box, I wasn’t even swinging because I thought there was a chance that that could happen, and it happened,” Castellanos said.
He said “no” when asked if he had any beef with Uceta.
“Other than like having an overwhelming sense that I was about to get drilled,” Castellanos continued. “I can’t explain it. I know that he had relatively pretty good numbers going into that.
“Just watching him, I could see him getting frustrated and digging in. I’m like, I’m gonna take this pitch right here to see if he’s near the plate. And it wasn’t anywhere near the plate.”
Castellanos then addressed his reaction to getting hit by the pitch.
“I just told him that was bulls***,” Castellanos continued. “You’re throwing a baseball over 90 mph and you’re frustrated. You’re gonna throw at somebody? That’s like my two-year-old throwing a fit because I take away his dessert before he’s finished.”
Uceta told reporters after the game that he did not intentionally throw at Castellanos.
The Phillies and Rays will conclude their three-game series Wednesday night. The Rays will do so without the services of Cash or Uceta, barring an appeal of the suspensions.
