Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ryan Borucki has been given a three-game suspension and a fine for hitting Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier with a pitch on Wednesday.
Borucki is appealing the decision and will remain active while that’s pending.
The incident occurred with the Blue Jays down 7-1 in the eighth inning and cleared the benches. Borucki was immediately thrown out of the game.
Kiermaier has been at the centre of much debate all week after picking up a Blue Jays scouting report card that fell out of catcher Alejandro Kirk’s wristband on Monday and not returning it. As a result, he felt Borucki’s intentions were clear with the pitch.
“Oh yeah, it was intentional,” said Kiermaier after the game. “I thought it was a weak move.”
Borucki, on the other hand, denies any suggestion he did it on purpose.
“I missed up and in and I accidentally hit him,” added Borucki. “They can think what they want over there in their locker room. But it is what it is. That’s really all I got.”
With the Blue Jays currently 0.5 games out of the second wild-card spot and the Rays leading the American League, Kiermaier made it known he’d like to face Toronto in the playoffs.
“I hope we play those guys (in the post-season),” he said. “I really do. I hope we play them.”
The Blue Jays continue their attempt to break into the post-season on Thursday, as the team travels to Minnesota for a four-game stretch against the Twins. Watch the game live starting at 7:40 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.
