The Texas Rangers are aware and looking into an incident in which catcher Yorvit Torrealba hit an umpire in the face during a winter league game.
A video showing the incident circulated around the Internet on Friday night.
"[We're] aware, but we haven't got much info yet," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “We will look into it.”
Asked if disciplinary action could be taken because it happened in a non-MLB game, Daniels said: “Depends on circumstances.”
The video shows Torrealba, playing for Leones del Caracas in his native Venezuela, striking out swinging, and then throwing his hand up towards the umpire. The umpire immediately ejects Torrealba, which leads to a face-to-face confrontation. After a few seconds, Torrealba is seen -- with an open hand -- pushing the umpire’s facemask.
Torrealba signed a two-year, $6.25 million deal with the Rangers last offseason. He hit .273 with a career-high 27 doubles and 37 RBIs in 113 regular-season games. Torrealba’s playing time diminished in the postseason when a red-hot Mike Napoli became the team’s No. 1 catcher.
-- Drew Davison
I watched umpire incident video in youtube other day. Whatever happened is interesting but unacceptable. Interested to know what's next step will be taken by winter league association. Thanks
Posted by: Andi Philip | December 28, 2011 at 03:39 AM