Josh Donaldson’s appeal of his one-game suspension has been denied, and he will sit out Tuesday’s Yankees-Rays game as a result, according to multiple reports.
Donaldson was fined and suspended for his Jackie Robinson comments to Tim Anderson late last month, with MLB saying he was “a contributing factor in a bench-clearing incident” and levying the suspension for his “inappropriate comments.”
“Regardless of Mr. Donaldson’s intent, the comment he directed toward Mr. Anderson was disrespectful and in poor judgment, particularly when viewed in the context of their prior interactions,” MLB senior vice president for on-field operations Michael Hill said in the release announcing the initial punishment last month. “In addition, Mr. Donaldson’s remark was a contributing factor in a bench-clearing incident between the teams, and warrants discipline.”
Donaldson appealed, and although his fine was reduced – reportedly to $5,000, per the AP – MLB special assistant John McHale did not change the suspension after last week’s hearing.
“For the circumstance, my intentions weren’t what it was blown out to be," Donaldson said shortly after the incident. “I think a big part of the thing was I incited the benches clearing when that was like four innings after. I don’t know how I was inciting anything. I walked up to home plate and the catcher kind of confronted me at the time. I don’t know how that was my prerogative, that they decided I wanted to clear the benches. So in my opinion, I didn’t do that.”
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Donaldson has since apologized to both Anderson and Jackie Robinson’s family for the comments.
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