Rodolfo Castro suspended, fined for playing with phone in pocket

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Rodolfo Castro. Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro suspended one game, fined for playing while having cell phone in back pocket

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 8/16/22

One week ago, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro provided one of the most unique bloopers in recent MLB history when his iPhone fell out of his back pocket as he slid into third base during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It was reported last Wednesday that the league was "looking into" the incident, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic explained that -- intentional or not -- having the phone on him was technically in violation of MLB's regulation prohibiting "electronic devices on the field or in the dugout."

On Tuesday afternoon, the punishment was revealed.

Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro was suspended for one game and fined for violating MLB policy when he played while having a cell phone in his back pocket.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 16, 2022

It was later reported by Passan that Castro would be appealing the suspension. Passan also noted that some league executives "wondered whether it warranted a longer suspension," but MLB "clearly believed Castro's explanation that it was an accident."

The 23-year-old has gone 22-for-92 with two home runs and five RBI over 27 big league games this season.

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