Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion has been suspended one game for bumping an umpire in the first inning of Friday's game against the Cleveland Indians, MLB announced Sunday.
Encarnacion will continue to play while he appeals the suspension. The 33-year-old designated hitter/first baseman was ejected by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza after arguing a called third strike. Manager John Gibbons and catcher Russell Martin were also thrown out in the game after expressing frustration with Carpazza's calls.
Encarnacion took a 3-2 pitch from Josh Tomlin that appeared off the plate outside and began walking to first base as Carapazza rung him up. Angered by the call, Encarnacion threw his bat to the ground and said something to the umpire's face before being tossed. He then charged in Carapazza's direction, bumping him slightly from behind.
Per of MLB.com, Martin said afterward:
It's tough as a player when the umpire makes a mistake, you say your piece about it and then you get thrown out for being right. It's tough. I think umpires just need to sometimes take a deep breath and not flip the switch to quick.
Eddy didn't really need to get thrown out in that situation either. Hopefully he gets talked to and the veteran umpires kind of tell him that there's a certain way to do things, but we'll see. It's over so, can't do anything now.
Making contact with an umpire is a near-automatic suspension within the MLB purview. James Loney, Joey Votto and David Ortiz each got one-game bans last season for similar actions. Bryce Harper landed a one-game suspension this season in part for hurling an expletive at an ump after being thrown out.
It would then seem unlikely that Encarnacion's appeal is successful. With another game against red-hot Cleveland coming Sunday and a series against the defending champion Kansas City Royals coming afterward, it's possible he's appealing so his suspension can have better timing in the schedule. He could simply drop the appeal and plan to serve the ban on a planned rest day or hold out and keep playing until the league office hears his case.
Encarnacion currently leads the MLB in runs batted in (73) and is tied for fourth in home runs (22). The Jays (44-39) are battling for a playoff spot, so having him in the lineup against the likes of Kansas City (43-37) and Cleveland (49-31) is vital in what's shaping up to be a close race.
But given precedent and the clear video evidence of Encarnacion bumping Carapazza, he'll likely serve a ban at some point.
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