The doubleheader between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers gave plenty to talk about both on and off the diamond, as a series of incidents occurred involving reliever Dennis Santana and outfielder Tommy Pham
The most tense moment came during the second game, when Santana was involved in an altercation with fans located near the visitors’ bullpen at Comerica Park. In a video that quickly went viral on social media, the pitcher can be seen pointing at a spectator before lunging towards the bullpen fence in an apparent attempt to attack.
However, after the match, Santana apologised by stating: “You know me, you know I’m a calm person. They crossed the line several times… It doesn’t justify my actions, but it was too much,” said Santana.
Don Kelly refuses to comment
Given the commotion generated, the Pirates’ interim manager, Don Kelly, chose not to give further statements in this regard, which generated questions about the lack of a clearer stance on the part of the coaching staff:
I’m still gathering information. I don’t have enough data to comment on it
Dennis Santana statistics
The Pirates achieved an 8-4 victory in ten innings. However, the focus has now shifted to the figure of Dennis Santana, both for the incident and for his performance this season.
With an ERA of 1.72, a WHIP of 0.83, five saves and a remarkable strikeout-to-walk ratio of 25, the Dominican reliever is having the best season of his career.
Where will Dennis Santana play next season?
According to MLB Network’s Mark Feinsand, several contending teams, including the Red Sox, have already shown interest in acquiring him ahead of the trade deadline.
However, even at 29 years of age, Santana is a valuable asset for the Pirates, and he has two more seasons on his contract and a salary of $1.4 million, making him an attractive option for both modestly budgeted teams and giants looking to bolster their bullpen
However, the recent altercation with fans could represent a point against his possible prospects, as in important teams being able to shine under pressure is an everyday thing. Even so, his statistics and performance on the mound make it clear that he is a player in excellent form. A fundamental piece in the performance of the Pirates, who are currently 16 games behind the lead in the National League Central Division with a record of 30-46.
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