MLB Lifts Suspension for Matt Chapman After On-Field Incidents
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman has seen Major League Baseball (MLB) withdraw the one-game suspension that had been imposed on him. Instead of the sanction, Chapman will have to pay a fine for his involvement in the altercation that occurred on September 2 in a game against the Colorado Rockies. The announcement was made by the Giants on Friday, before the start of the weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team reported that an agreement was reached with the Commissioner’s Office. Chapman was facing a suspension and a fine, the amount of which was not disclosed, after having contact with Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland. Both Chapman and Freeland and Giants shortstop Willy Adames were ejected after the incident in the first inning during San Francisco’s 7-4 victory at Coors Field. Chapman led the Giants in the 10-8 victory over the Rockies the following night, playing while the appeal was considered. Freeland, Adames, and Rafael Devers were also fined for their involvement. Tempers flared after Devers hit a two-run homer in the first inning and celebrated before beginning his slow trot.Devers connected a pitch over the right field wall, and then Freeland took offense at Devers’ celebration, causing both players to yell at each other. Several players ran toward the infield, and MLB said Chapman was sanctioned for “pushing” Freeland. Adames was also in the middle of the fight.“Look, we don’t feel like we started it. It is what it is, deal with it going forward. We’ll see what happens on the appeal. The others were fines,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said the next day. “You knew something was going to happen. We were hoping there wouldn’t be suspensions. It ended up being one, and it’s under appeal, so we’ll see where that goes.”
Bob Melvin
