Victor Robles was suspended for 10 games for his on-field outburst on Sunday.
The Mariners outfielder was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma when he threw his bat at Aviators pitcher Joey Estes after nearly getting hit by a pitch on Sunday.
Estes’ pitch rode up-and-inside at Robles, who swung at it in apparent self-defense, fouling it off.
Robles, 28, then tried to charge the mound but was held back by teammates and umpires before being ejected.
The blowup continued in the dugout when Robles hurled a cooler and bags of sunflower seeds onto the field.
Robles has been in the minors rehabbing a dislocated left shoulder after he suffered the injury making a leaping catch and colliding with the netting at Oracle Park against the Giants in San Francisco.
He will serve his 10-game ban after he comes off the injured list.
The outfielder had already been hit by a pitch three times in five rehab games for Tacoma, including twice last Tuesday, once on a pitch out of Estes’ hand.
After the incident, Robles took to social media to apologize for his explosion.
“I want to take a moment to sincerely apologize for my recent reaction on the field. I let my frustration get the best of me, and I understand how that may have affected not just the game, but the energy and respect we all work so hard to maintain,” Robles wrote on Instagram.
“Coming off a long rehab and being away from the game for most of the season has been physically and mentally challenging. Adding to that, the recent passing of my mother has been incredibly hard, and I’ve been doing my best to hold it together. That’s not an excuse, but some context, I feel you deserve to understand where I’m coming from.
“Getting hit 5 times in 15 at-bats added to that pressure, and I reacted in a way I’m not proud of. This game means the world to me, and so do the people who play it. I respect every one of you – my teammates, the opposing players, and everyone in this league. I’m committed to being better, not just as a player, but as a teammate and competitor. I appreciate your understanding, and I’m grateful to be back on the field doing what I love. Thank you.”
