A ground ball was fielded and rolled 'gurgling' to first base, sparking an absurd and embarrassing controversy! It turned out to be a former 'KIA' pitcher → Manager immediately apologizes

*This content was translated by AI.

A pitcher on the Taiwan Professional Baseball League (CPBL) stage was put under scrutiny for rolling a ball along the ground to first base after fielding an ordinary infield grounder. The pitcher in question was none other than Mario Sanchez (32, CTBC Brothers), a foreign pitcher formerly with the KBO League's KIA Tigers.

Sanchez started against the Tongyi Lions on the 18th at home. The incident occurred in the bottom of the third inning while his team held a 3-0 lead. After fielding a ground ball hit by opposing batter Lin Hung-hsien directly in front of the mound, Sanchez did not make a normal throw; instead, he rolled the ball along the ground like a bowling ball to deliver it to the first baseman. In a situation where the runner was sprinting at full speed toward first base, this absurd display of nonchalance immediately drew fierce criticism in Taiwan for 'deceiving the opposing team and showing disrespect for baseball.'

This careless play instantly disrupted the flow of the game. Enraged by Sanchez's provocation, the Tongyi lineup scored two runs each in consecutive fourth and fifth innings, quickly overturning the score to 4-3. Although CTBC managed a narrow 5-4 victory thanks to strong relief pitching and sharp fielding in the later innings, the manager's expression remained far from cheerful.

Immediately after the game, CTBC manager Keiichi Hirano (47), despite the win, unusually criticized Sanchez's play strongly and bowed his head. According to a report by Taiwanese media SETN, Manager Hirano said right after the 18th game: "Sanchez's action in the third inning is absolutely unacceptable for a professional player. This is not the kind of baseball CTBC Brothers plays." He added, "The opposing batter was sprinting at full speed. It was clearly an act lacking respect; honestly, I wanted to remove him from the mound right there on the spot. Baseball must never be taken lightly."

He continued, "Our careless action provoked the opponent's anger and led to a fierce counterattack. Although we won the game, as manager, I deeply feel responsible." He then stated, "I sincerely apologize with a bowed head not only to the opposing team Tongyi but also to the fans who visited the stadium and to young players watching and learning baseball."

Furthermore, Manager Hirano said, "While thanking the fielders and relief pitchers who fought until the end to turn the momentum after allowing the comeback," he added, "We will thoroughly reflect on this game and from the next game onward, we will play with a focus on fundamentals that can serve as a model even for young baseball players."

Meanwhile, Sanchez is a player who wore the KIA uniform in the 2023 season as an alternative foreign pitcher and played in the KBO League. In the 2023 season, he appeared in 12 games with a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 5.94. Known for his distinctive pitching style featuring unique pickoff moves and double-kicking motions, he has continued to serve as a key part of CTBC's starting rotation since returning to Taiwan, but this 'bowling throw' incident left an indelible regret behind the victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.