Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor drew an eight-game suspension for punching Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista on Sunday, according to multiple reports Tuesday.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was suspended three games, according to Fox Sports. He had been ejected earlier in Sunday’s game but returned to the field.
Odor will reportedly appeal his ban. Odor’s suspension was first reported by MLB Network. Other reports say Bautista drew a one-game suspension.
Bautista slid at Odor’s legs in the midst of a double play in the top of the eighth inning of the Rangers’ eventual 7-6 victory. Players from both teams rushed the field, and Odor shoved Bautista and then landed a punch to his face.
Bautista had reached base after being hit by a pitch from Matt Bush.
Odor said Sunday that he expected a suspension, and on Monday he said he didn’t regret hitting Bautista.
Many players were involved in the melee.
Bautista and Odor were ejected after the brawl, as were Toronto third basemman Josh Donaldson and Texas bench coach Steve Buechele.
Umpires needed about 10 minutes to restore order, and Blue Jays reliever Jesse Chavez hit Prince Fielder with the next pitch when the game resumed, which caused both teams to leave their dugouts again, though this time no punches were thrown.
Chavez and Blue Jays coach DeMarlo Hale were then ejected after an earlier warning for both teams when Bautista was hit by Bush. Hale was serving as acting manager after Gibbons was ejected in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes.
Despite punching him Sunday, Odor said Monday that he respects Bautista because he “plays hard.”
The Rangers’ series-clinching victory Sunday was the final regular season meeting between the two clubs. A feud had been simmering between the teams since Bautista’s bat flip in last year’s American League Division Series. Many Blue Jays took issue with the Rangers plunking Bautista in his last at-bat of the last meeting between the teams this season.
