Major league baseball suspended Kansas City Royals pitcher Runelvys Hernandez for 10 games as a result of a bean ball that hit Detroit's Carlos Guillen last Sunday and sparked a bench clearing brawl.
Royals manager Buddy Bell will be suspended for one game while Tigers relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth will miss six games and starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman will sit out for five games.
The suspensions were handed down by baseball's disciplinarian, Bob Watson. Fines were issued to Hernandez, Bell, Guillen, Bonderman and Farnsworth.
Watson explained that length of the suspensions is determined by a formula. 'We use a formula in which a five-game suspension for a starting pitcher equals one game missed, and a three-game suspension for a reliever equals one game missed,' Watson told the 'Detroit Free Press.'
Hernandez indicated that he planned to appeal the suspension and would make his scheduled start tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays. Farnsworth and Bonderman also intend to appeal their suspensions.
Hernandez insists that the beaning was not intentional and is exasperated at the length of his suspension.
'That's too much,' Hernandez said. 'I didn't do it on purpose. I never hit anybody in the head.'
Meanwhile, Guillen is still feeling the effects of being hit in the head. 'I still have headaches and I'm still taking medicine,' Guillen told reporters before Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Twins. 'The doctor said it's going to be for five or 10 days. I feel better as soon as I get going in batting practice.'
Guillen is only 2 for 17 at the plate in the four games since he was beaned.
