MLB suspends Rodolfo Castro for phone incident, but Pirates infielder will appeal

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro was suspended for one game and fined for violating MLB policy regarding unapproved electronic devices when his cellphone fell out of his back pocket during an Aug. 9 game at Arizona.

While saying he truly respects MLB’s decision, Castro will appeal the suspension. That will allow him to continue to play for the Pirates, and he started at third base against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

“In all reality, I was a little bit surprised, especially because at the end of the day, I’m human. I made a mistake. I take ownership of my mistake,” Castro said through translator Mike Gonzalez. “I do respect the decision MLB made, but this is something, like I mentioned before, that was definitely not intentional and not purposeful. It was a mistake.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said MLB investigated the incident where Castro’s phone fell out of his back pocket while sliding headfirst into third base in the fourth inning of a 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks and “came up with something it thought was fair.”

ESPN reported MLB officials examined Castro’s phone activity and found no evidence it had been used during the game before the incident, alleviating concerns caused by the Houston Astros cheating scandal.

Hayes sent to IL

The back spasms that prevented Ke’Bryan Hayes from playing in San Francisco forced the Pirates to place the third baseman on the 10-day injured list.

Hayes appeared to aggravate his back when he was running out a grounder against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 11.

His injury is listed as retroactive to Aug. 13 with a mid-back muscle strain, which makes him eligible to return from the IL next Tuesday against Atlanta.

The Pirates recalled infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Indianapolis, and he started at first base and batted fifth Tuesday night.

Shelton also announced right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras will start Wednesday against the Red Sox. Contreras was 3-2 with a 3.78 ERA in 50 innings over 12 appearances (nine starts) for the Pirates this season before being shut down at midseason.