Miguel Sano suspended one game, but Twins will appeal

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Major League Baseball on Monday suspended Twins third baseman Miguel Sano one game for his role in a benches-clearing incident on Saturday against Detroit. Sano also was fined.

Joe Torre, MLB's chief baseball officer, cited Sano's "aggressive actions" as the reason for the punishment. The Twins are going to appeal the decision. Manager Paul Molitor said that he spoke to Sano, Chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and General Manager Thad Levine, and they believe they can get the punishment reduced to just a fine.

So instead of serving the penalty Monday, Sano started at third base and batted third against the Rangers.

"We feel a proper response is to appeal," Molitor said. "We feel we have a fairly legitimate case as to why they should consider reducing that."

Sano was pleased when the Twins told him of their plans to appeal.

"It makes me happy that they support me that way," Sano said. "It stinks that I've been suspended, but it is part of the deal. It is in MLB's hands and they will take care of that."

Major League Baseball usually hears an appeal within one to two weeks and the league prefers to do them in person when the schedule permits. But the Twins don't play in New York — where MLB is headquartered — until September. So it's more likely that the appeal will be done via video conferencing.

"In my head, I didn't do anything wrong," Sano said. "We'll see what happens."

The incident took place after Detroit's JaCoby Jones was hit in the mouth by a pitch thrown by Twins righthander Justin Haley. Tigers lefthander Matthew Boyd threw the first pitch behind Sano, which looked to be in retaliation for what Haley did to Jones. Sano pointed toward and yelled at Boyd. Plate umpire Jordan Baker and Tigers catcher James McCann got between Sano and Boyd, but McCann's glove hit Sano in the face, and Sano retaliated by shoving McCann and earning an ejection. Crew chief Mike Everitt later described Sano's action as a punch.

Boyd was fined for his actions. McCann was not punished, although Sano and the Twins maintain his actions escalated the situation. That will likely be part of their appeal.

"The next step is to find out when the hearing will actually take place," Levine said. "We will then, as an organization, support [Sano's] desire to appeal by providing video and some commentary around the situation that Major League Baseball may otherwise not have the benefit of, in order to try to support Miguel in his pursuit of appealing his suspension."

Nick Tepesch picked the right time to get called up. He's back in Texas, where he was drafted in 2010 and debuted in 2013.

Tepesch, 28, posted a 2.00 ERA in three starts at Class AAA Rochester to earn the call-up. He doesn't throw hard but uses his offspeed pitches effectively. Molitor said Tepesch will be the long reliever for now.

And the Twins will play a weekend series at Kansas City, where Tepesch was born.

• Dallas-area residents Torii Hunter and LaTroy Hawkins were at Monday's game. Hunter did early work with Byron Buxton as he tries to help the fleet outfielder get over his struggles at the plate.