Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig received a one-game suspension from Major League Baseball chief baseball officer Joe Torre for his obscene gesture in the second inning Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
Puig was also fined an undisclosed amount. He’s appealing the suspension and is in the Dodgers’ lineup Wednesday night, starting in right field and batting ninth. The 26-year-old expressed remorse over the situation following the game, admitting to letting his emotions get the better of him.
Puig said a group of fans seated just off the Dodgers dugout heckled him prior to and after the at-bat in which he hit a two-run home run off Trevor Bauer. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke with his polarizing outfielder to express disappointment over the incident.
If upheld, the suspension would be the first of Puig’s career. Unless he elects to drop the appeal at some point, Puig will remain eligible to play until the process is complete.
A likely scenario may be the suspension is dropped and Puig pays the fine. He enters play Wednesday night batting .239/.313/.418 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 33 RBI in 62 games.
Puig has largely avoided trouble this season, after enduring a bumpy 2016 that saw him demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
