Major League Baseball issued seven-game suspensions and undisclosed fines to Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras and Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli on Thursday. The disciplinary actions stem from a brawl that erupted in the fourth inning of Tuesday night's game at Fenway Park.
The incident began when Cavalli struck out Contreras looking on a full-count pitch and uttered the phrase, "Sit down, boy." In response, Contreras charged the mound and threw his batting helmet toward Cavalli, leading to both benches and bullpens emptying.
MLB also suspended Nationals right-hander Miles Mikolas for five games and Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton for three games, along with fines for both players, for their involvement in a separate scuffle during the altercation. All four suspensions are scheduled to commence on Friday.
The Red Sox will feel Contreras's absence more immediately, as he will be out of the lineup for a full week. Cavalli and Mikolas are expected to miss only one turn in their respective pitching rotations.
Cavalli issued an apology on Wednesday, expressing regret for using the word "boy" and acknowledging its historical connotations. He stated the incident weighed on him due to the example he aims to set for young fans. Nationals officials also addressed the matter with Cavalli.
Contreras's ejection occurred after an emotional period for the veteran player. He had been ejected the previous night for arguing a checked-swing call and had also spoken about the stress caused by devastating earthquakes in his home country of Venezuela.
Appeals by any of the suspended players would defer the start of their suspensions until MLB completes its review process.