Detroit Tigers closer Fernando Rodney has been suspended for three games and fined for throwing a ball toward the stands following a game last week. The penalty, announced Tuesday by baseball vice president for discipline Bob Watson, comes after Rodney threw a ball toward the seats and into the press box following Detroit’s 4-3 win over Tampa Bay on Friday night. No one was hit by the ball and Rodney said afterward that he was throwing it to the fans. Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said Rodney clearly didn’t have any intent to injure anyone and will appeal the suspension. “I cannot condone what Fernando did. That was inappropriate — you’re not supposed to throw the ball into the stands like that and the players know that,” he said. Rodney’s heave came after he allowed two runs in the ninth inning before closing out his 32nd save. Once it was over, he grabbed the game ball from teammate Miguel Cabrera and hurled it over the screen into the press box, where it crashed off the front row into the back.
Rodney said Tuesday he wasn’t trying to hit anyone and thought the suspension was too severe.