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Two players and two baseball coaches were sanctioned this Saturday for aggression and inappropriate behaviors in their respective teams.
In a press conference, sanctions were announced following incidents that occurred during a game between Mayabeque and Las Tunas at the Julio Antonio Mella Stadium.
According to experts, there were intentional pitches, offenses towards the referees and obscene gestures towards the crowd.
For this reason, the player Yoelkis Cruz (Las Tunas, pitcher) was suspended for five games due to an intentional hit by pitch.
Diosmel Hurtado, a player from the same team, received a five-game suspension for obscene gestures directed at the audience.
Meanwhile, Rigoberto Hernández (coach of Mayabeque) will be absent for five games due to using offensive language towards the referee.
Jorge Miranda, coach of Granma, will be absent for 10 games due to protesting "in a very disorganized manner" a refereeing decision.
The sanctioned events stem from the Mayabeque–Las Tunas match held last Sunday, where the reported unsportsmanlike behaviors took place. Furthermore, it was reported that the referees for that game are also awaiting technical measures (not disciplinary).
This incident comes in the wake of a major scandal in national baseball, following the brutal beating of technical commissioner Miguel Rojas Rodríguez after a National Series game.
The manager of the Sancti Spíritus team, Eriel Sánchez, reportedly attacked the technical commissioner Miguel Rojas Rodríguez with a bat after a National Series game held on Saturday at the "José Antonio Huelga" stadium.
Rojas was transferred to the Provincial Hospital "Camilo Cienfuegos," where he received five stitches. At this moment, he shows no signs of cranial or brain damage but remains under observation.
In June, additionally, ten players were expelled following a brawl during a youth game between Sancti Spíritus and Ciego de Ávila, at the same José Antonio Huelga stadium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Incidents in Cuban Baseball
What sanctions were imposed on those involved in the Mayabeque-Las Tunas match?
Yoelkis Cruz and Diosmel Hurtado, players from Las Tunas, were suspended for 5 games due to intentional hit-by-pitches and obscene gestures, respectively. Rigoberto Hernández, coach of Mayabeque, received a 5-game suspension for using foul language towards the umpire, and Jorge Miranda, coach of Granma, was fined 10 games for protesting inappropriately against a refereeing decision.
What happened to Eriel Sánchez after the incident with Miguel Rojas?
Eriel Sánchez has been suspended for five years from the competitive system of Cuban baseball after assaulting technical commissioner Miguel Rojas with a blunt object. Although Eriel Sánchez has announced his definitive retirement from baseball, the incident has sparked significant controversy and a call to review discipline in Cuban sports.
What was Miguel Rojas's reaction to the attack?
Miguel Rojas was taken to the hospital where he received five stitches after being assaulted. Despite the seriousness of the incident, Rojas shows no signs of head or brain injury, but remains under observation. He has expressed his disagreement with the penalties imposed and considers himself a victim of the assault.
What measures has the National Baseball Commission taken in response to these violent incidents?
The National Baseball Commission has suspended Eriel Sánchez for five years and Miguel Rojas for three years, deeming the incident a very serious disciplinary breach. These measures aim to set a precedent and reaffirm the values of the Cuban sports system in the face of rising violence in national baseball.
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