Orioles shortstop Manny Machado has been suspended four games and fined $2,500 for punching Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura after he was hit by a 99 MPH fastball, per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. That’s half the punishment Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor received for punching Jose Bautista last month.
Teammate Adam Jones volunteered to pay Machado’s fine for him. Jones said, via MASN’s Steve Melewski, “I’ve got Manny’s fine and the rest is history. Manny is not at fault for nothing. You get hit with 95 or 98 (mph) and see what you do.”
Machado plans to appeal the suspension, per Nightengale. Appealing allows him to play in the Orioles’ four-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto starting tonight, as a hearing would likely take place next week.
Machado enters play Thursday batting .303/.375/.593 with 15 home runs and 37 RBI in 259 plate appearances.