New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, manager Aaron Boone and Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash have all been suspended for their roles in an incident Tuesday night in New York.
Chapman received a three-game ban, while Boone and Cash were suspended one game each. All received undisclosed fines.
Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball near the head of pinch hitter Michael Brosseau while closing out his first save of the season, prompting the benches to empty after New York ended a six-game losing streak against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night.
Chapman's first pitch to Brosseau with two out in the ninth inning whizzed past Brosseau's head, and umpires met before issuing warnings to both benches amid a budding rivalry that's been dominated this season by Tampa Bay. The Rays are 7-2 against the Yankees and lead second-place New York by 3½ games in the American League East.
Chapman struck out Brosseau to end it, and Brosseau began walking toward the visiting dugout before turning back to exchange words with someone on the Yankees. The dugouts and benches emptied and players gathered near home plate, but they mostly kept their distance before dispersing to their respective clubhouses, and umpires stepped in.
Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka hit Joey Wendle with a pitch in the first inning, which Cash said he believed was intentional, prompting a bit of a back-and-forth with Boone after the game.
"It's absolutely ridiculous," Cash said. "It was mishandled by the Yankees. Certainly the pitcher on the mound. It was mishandled by the umpires.
"Somebody has to be accountable. The last thing I'll say on it is I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph. Period."
Told of Cash's apparent threat, Boone said it was "a pretty scary comment. I don't think that's right at all. But I'm not going to get into it right now."
Teams have been warned not to leave the benches this season as part of the league's coronavirus protocols. Players on both sides seemed to be urging others to deescalate.
Chapman began the season on the COVID-19 injured list. He had been 0-for-1 in save chances this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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