In roughly a second, Houston Astros star Yuuli Gurriel managed to dampen his team’s feel-good story in Major League Baseball’s Post-Season.
And despite the fact that Cuban-born player’s clear racist gesture — in which Gurriel appears to be pulling at his eyes in mockery of Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish in the dugout after hitting a home-run off the Dodgers pitcher — was caught on camera Friday night, there won’t be any consequences until next season.
Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Saturday that the Astros first baseman will be suspended for five games at the suspension without pay that will begin at the start of the 2018 season.
“There is no excuse or explanation that makes that type of behavior acceptable,” Manfred said.
Yuli Gurriel under fire after gesture made in dugout after homering off Yu Darvish: https://t.co/CoY4gEYRDG pic.twitter.com/TmF1HJNUTo
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) October 28, 2017
That the suspension allowed Gurriel to continue playing in the World Series, now tied at two games apiece after the Dodgers’ Saturday night victory, did not do much to soothe outrage on social media.
Part of Manfred’s reasoning stemmed from the fact that Gurriel issued an apology and showed contrition. But the commissioner also stressed that removing the 33-year-old player for his conduct could harm the entire Astros team disproportionally during this critical stretch.
Darvish issued a statement Friday night forgiving Gurriel and suggesting that the incident could be a learning opportunity.
The suspension is two games more than Yunel Escobar received after sporting gay slurs written on his eye black strips in 2012. Gurriel will forfeit approximately $320,855 of his $12 million salary with the punishment. He will also undergo mandatory sensitivity training.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
