Reason Behind Pirates Pitcher’s Altercation with Fans Revealed
A recent incident involving Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana and a fan has now been explained, shedding light on what led to the altercation.
Santana, a right-handed reliever, became involved in a confrontation with a fan near the bullpen during the second game of a doubleheader and the series finale against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Santana reportedly jumped up and took a swing at the fan before being restrained by members of the Pirates coaching staff.
According to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, the Tigers confirmed that the fan was ejected from the stadium following the incident.
Santana later pitched the bottom of the ninth inning, but after a lengthy rain delay lasting more than 75 minutes, Pirates manager Don Kelly opted to bring in right-handed pitcher David Bednar when play resumed.
Dan Zangrilli, the host of the Pirates’ pre-game and post-game shows on 93.7 The Fan, reported that the fan threw nuts at Santana and directed insults at him, some of which had racial undertones. Zangrilli also mentioned that the fan made hurtful comments about Santana’s recently deceased father. Santana had been placed on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List on April 28.
In response to the incident, MLB’s Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations, Michael Hill, announced in June that Santana would be suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount for his aggressive behavior. Santana appealed the suspension and continued to pitch during the series against the Texas Rangers from June 20-22.
Santana later defended his actions, explaining to reporters that the fan had crossed a line. “You guys know me, I’m a calm demeanor type of person,” Santana said through interpreter Stephen Morales. “I’ve never had any issues with other teams, but I guess the guy crossed the line a few times, but I would not like to go into it.”
The same game also saw Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham get into an argument with a fan, leading to those fans being ejected by security.
Santana has been having an outstanding 2025 season, posting a 2-1 record in 34 appearances, a 1.62 ERA over 33.1 innings, 26 strikeouts, 5 walks, and a .181 opponent batting average, along with a 0.78 WHIP.
The Pirates claimed Santana off waivers from the New York Yankees on June 11, 2024, and selected his contract two days later. He had a strong finish to the 2024 season, recording a 2.44 ERA in 39 games with a 1-1 record, 50 strikeouts, and a .192 opposing batting average.
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