Pirates' Rodolfo Castro suspended one game, fined after cell phone incident
Castro is appealing MLB's decision
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro has been suspended one game and fined by MLB after his cell phone fell out of his pocket while sliding to a base during a game last week.
The suspension was announced Tuesday before the Pirates’ home game against the Boston Red Sox but Castro will be allowed to play after appealing MLB’s decision.
Pittsburgh Pirates Infielder Rodolfo Castro (14) after getting called out at first base during a Baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 9th, 2022, at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"I just really want MLB to hear my version of the story and make sure they understand my heart behind everything," Castro said through an interpreter before the game. "None of this was intentional. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PIRATES’ RODOLFO CASTRO HAS PHONE FALL OUT OF POCKET DURING THIRD-BASE SLIDE
The blunder happened at the bottom of the fourth during last week’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Castro made a head-first dive into third base when his cell phone flew out of his pocket.
Rodolfo Castro #14 of the Pittsburgh Pirates slides into third base as his cell phone falls out of his pocket during the fourth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 09, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I just remember getting dressed, putting my pants on, getting something to eat, using the restroom," Castro said at the time. "Never did it ever cross my mind that I still had my cellphone on me."
Rodolfo Castro #14 of the Pittsburgh Pirates slides into third base as his cell phone falls out of his pocket during the fourth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 09, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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MLB has been cracking down on technology violations after the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and then-manager A.J. Hinch were suspended for the 2020 season and the team was fined $5 million. They also forfeited their first- and second-round picks in 2020 and 2021.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.