Major League Baseball suspended Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos for two games and fined him an undisclosed amount for "aggressive actions" and "instigating a benches-clearing incident" against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, the league announced.
The Reds outfielder is appealing the decision.
"I am disappointed that Nick was suspended even though he did not initiate physical contact," Reds manager David Bell said, according to The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans.
"I am hopeful that when baseball is played with emotion, the players will be protected from dangerous and unnecessary retaliation."
Castellanos celebrated scoring a run by standing over and shouting at Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford in the fourth inning Saturday, causing the benches to clear.
Benches have cleared in the Reds-Cardinals game.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 3, 2021
(via @BallySportsMW)pic.twitter.com/yeXq6kxnxw
The altercation followed Castellanos skipping to first base after hitting a homer off Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty on Opening Day.
The first homer of the Reds' 2021 season belongs to Nick Castellanos! #RedsOpeningDay pic.twitter.com/kQSt3uQZHA
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 1, 2021
Additionally, Cardinals players Nolan Arenado, Jordan Hicks, and Yadier Molina, as well as Reds infielder Eugenio Suarez and outfielder Jesse Winker, were fined for their roles in the on-field incident.
