Major League Baseball has imposed a four-game suspension on Pirates reliever Dennis Santana for “aggressive conduct toward a fan” during the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader in Detroit. Santana, who was also fined an undisclosed amount, elected to appeal. He remains on the roster pending the result of that process.
Santana was in the bullpen last night when he got into a spat with a heckler in the first row. He jumped and took a swipe at the fan, though he didn’t appear to make contact (social media video). The fan was removed by Comerica Park security. Santana was not ejected and was called upon in the ninth inning. He recorded one out before the game went into a rain delay that led the Pirates to remove him rather than risk warming him back up.
After the game, Santana told the Pittsburgh beat via an interpreter that the fan had “crossed a line.” He declined to provide any more specifics (link via Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Santana conceded that did not “justify (his) actions” and said he’d already expressed regret to manager Don Kelly. “You guys know me and I’m a calm demeanor type of person,” he told reporters. “I’ve never had any issues with any of the teams that I’ve played for and I guess the guy crossed the line a few times. I would not like to go into it.”
A waiver claim from the Yankees last June, Santana has been quietly excellent over a full calendar year since landing in Pittsburgh. He owns a 1.72 ERA with five saves and nine holds through 32 appearances this season. Santana has a year and a half of remaining arbitration control and should be a solid trade chip as the Pirates approach deadline season as clear sellers.