Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana found himself in a heated exchange with a fan during Thursday’s doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, leading to an altercation in the Comerica Park bullpen.
Santana, a right-handed reliever for the Pirates, had to be restrained by teammates and coaches after swatting at a fan who appeared to have crossed a line.
The Incident in the Bullpen
The incident took place during the second game of the doubleheader, which saw the Pirates win 8-4 in 10 innings. Santana, who was warming up in the bullpen, exchanged words with a fan seated in the stands behind the bullpen, which are elevated.
At one point, Santana jumped and appeared to swing at the fan before being quickly held back by his teammates and coaching staff.
“I’m a calm demeanor type of person,” Santana said through an interpreter after the game. “I’ve never had any issues for any of the teams that I’ve played for.
I guess the guy crossed the line a few times.” Santana’s calm demeanor is well-known, making this outburst unusual for the typically composed pitcher.
Fan Ejected from Comerica Park
The Tigers confirmed that the fan involved in the incident was ejected from the stadium. MLB officials are expected to investigate Santana’s actions and may decide on any necessary disciplinary measures.
Previous Incident Involving Tommy Pham
This incident comes on the heels of another controversial moment earlier this season when Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham was handed a one-game suspension for an inappropriate gesture toward fans.
While Pham’s incident did not involve physical confrontation, Santana’s actions are likely to come under scrutiny as well.
Santana’s Performance and Impact on the Game
Despite the off-field drama, Santana had a strong performance on the mound before the rain delay. He pitched the ninth inning of the second game, throwing 10 pitches before the game was paused due to rain.
Santana, who had been the Pirates’ most reliable reliever this season, was not called back into the game after the delay.
With a 1.74 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 31 innings, Santana has been a standout performer for Pittsburgh this season.
His on-field contributions have been crucial to the Pirates’ bullpen success, making his involvement in this altercation all the more surprising.
While Santana’s actions may be investigated by MLB, the focus remains on his excellent performance this season for the Pirates.
The team will likely want to put this incident behind them as they continue their season, but Santana’s reputation may face scrutiny depending on the league’s findings.
