Major League Baseball has handed down a one-game suspension and monetary penalty to Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe following what the league termed “inappropriate actions” during Tuesday’s matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The disciplinary measures remain on hold as Uribe has filed an appeal, allowing him to remain eligible for Friday’s game when Milwaukee begins a three-game road series against the Houston Astros.
The league’s punishment stems from vulgar gestures the Milwaukee reliever directed at the Cardinals’ bench during the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 6-0 victory.
Following a strikeout that ended the inning with two baserunners stranded, Uribe performed three crotch chops while turned toward the opposing team’s dugout.
Speaking through an interpreter after the contest, the 25-year-old offered his regrets while also placing blame on the Cardinals organization.
“Everyone here knows me and knows who I am, and knows I have a bit of a history of being emotional out there,” he said. “I think first I owe an apology to the Brewers. I owe an apology to my teammates, to my manager, all the bosses of the team. I understand that’s unacceptable, to go out there and react in a way like that.
“But at the same time, I don’t think it’s professional for their manager to be making signs towards our dugout saying that he’s going to be hitting guys,” Uribe said, apparently referencing actions he saw from Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol during Monday’s series-opening 5-1 win by the Brewers.
“There was an event that occurred during the practice (Tuesday), too, and I don’t think that was right. So, I have my teammates’ back always,” Uribe added.
When pressed for more details about Tuesday’s batting practice incident, Uribe declined to elaborate, stating “I don’t have any comments toward that.”
This season, Uribe has compiled a 2-2 record with five saves and a 4.19 ERA across 21 relief outings.
