Mariners' Victor Robles Has Suspension Reduced to 7 Games for Throwing Bat at Pitcher

Major League Baseball has reduced the suspension for Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles for throwing a bat at a pitcher during a rehab game earlier this month.

The Mariners announced on Friday that Robles had his suspension reduced from 10 to seven games, and he will begin serving it starting with tonight's game against the Cleveland Guardians.

The situation occurred on Aug. 17 when Robles was playing with the Tacoma Rainiers on a rehab assignment against the Las Vegas Aviators.

In the top of the third inning, Aviators pitcher Joey Estes threw a fastball up and in that Robles swung at even though the ball nearly hit him in the right shoulder.

Robles, who initially dropped his bat, was unhappy with the offering, picked the bat back up and threw it at the mound. He also gestured toward Estes and was walking toward the mound before home plate umpire Joe McCarthy and Rainiers players held him back.

McCarthy immediately ejected Robles from the game when he threw the bat. His frustration level remained high when he got to the dugout, as he tossed a bucket of sunflower seeds onto the field.

Robles did post an apology message on his Instagram Stories after the game.

The 28-year-old Robles was on a rehab assignment after being out of action for more than three months due to a dislocated right shoulder suffered when he crashed into the netting making a catch against the San Francisco Giants on April 6.

MLB announced a 10-game suspension for Robles on Aug. 19, but he filed an appeal hoping to get it reduced. He was activated from the 60-day injured list on Aug. 23 and has appeared in four of the last five games waiting for a resolution to his appeal.

A seven-game suspension means Robles will be eligible to return on Sept. 6 when the Mariners are playing the Atlanta Braves. He is hitting .246/.267/.298 in 14 games this season.

Seattle (72-62) enters play on Friday just two games behind the Houston Astros for the top spot in the AL West. The Mariners hold a three-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for the AL's final wild card spot.