The Guantanamo pitcher Damián Savón issued a statement this Monday following a controversial incident at the Cándido González stadium in Camagüey, where he was expelled for assaulting an umpire during the game between Guantánamo and the Toros.
The statement was published by the player himself on his Facebook account, where he expressed his "deepest regret" for what happened.
Savón apologized to the people of Cuba, especially those in Camagüey, and to the National Baseball Directorate for the pitch that ended up hitting the umpire Roman Zamora, an action for which he was immediately ejected.
"I want to express my deepest regret [...] I am sorry for causing it," wrote Savón, who acknowledged that he will face a sanction from the highest sports authorities, and that his team has already imposed a disciplinary measure that will keep him out of several matches.
"I would never seek to create a degrading situation for Cuban baseball, which is what I have practiced since I was very young and where I have learned values," he added in his post.
He concluded his statement by asserting that he would never repeat this incident, which he described as regrettable.
For its part, the National Baseball Commission announced on X that "its Disciplinary Commission has been activated due to the conduct of the Guantánamo pitcher Álvaro Damián Savón Tejeda."
The video of the moment of the attack, where Savón is seen hitting the referee in the face with his glove, was shared by the specialized site Por La Goma LLC and sparked widespread reactions on social media.
Savón also criticized how the incident has been amplified on digital platforms: “I have seen on social media that they have used this situation to exaggerate and make it seem like a crisis in our baseball,” he stated.
He assured that he would never seek to "create a degrading situation for Cuban baseball."
The pitcher insisted that he has always maintained conduct in line with the values of Cuban sports and concluded his message by apologizing to his team and the affected referee: "I would never repeat such a regrettable incident."
Despite the scandal, Guantánamo defeated Camagüey with a score of 8 to 2.
This has not been the only case of severe discipline in the current National Series. Last August, the INDER in Granma confirmed a one-year suspension for pitcher Leandro Martínez due to violations classified as "very serious."
The measure prohibits their participation in national competitive events and their hiring, following public conduct that undermined sporting decorum.
The official commentator Pavel Otero, addressing this case, questioned the inconsistency in the application of sanctions within Cuban baseball.
"We have had players involved in physical assaults during the game with suspensions of only two or three matches," he pointed out, suggesting the need to review the disciplinary regulations.
Frequently asked questions about the Damián Savón incident and sanctions in Cuban baseball
What happened to Damián Savón during the match in Camagüey?
Damián Savón was expelled for assaulting an umpire during a game between Guantánamo and Camagüey at the Cándido González stadium. The pitcher struck umpire Roman Zamora with his glove, for which he publicly apologized on social media and expressed his regret.
What penalty could Damián Savón face for his aggression towards the referee?
Damián Savón has already been sanctioned by his team, which will keep him out of several matches. It is expected that he will receive a sanction from the highest sports authorities in Cuba, although the exact type of sanction has not yet been specified.
How has the Cuban baseball community reacted to the incident with Savón?
The incident has sparked extensive discussion on social media, with criticisms regarding how sanctions have been handled in Cuban baseball. Commentator Pavel Otero questioned the consistency in the application of sanctions, suggesting a review of the disciplinary regulations due to previous cases of aggression that received lighter penalties.
What other recent disciplinary incidents have occurred in Cuban baseball?
Recently, pitcher Leandro Martínez was sanctioned for one year due to very serious infractions, and pitcher Erly Casanova was sanctioned without a formal explanation for managing a contract on his own. These cases reflect a crisis in the disciplinary management and state control over Cuban baseball.
Filed under: