Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana, who swung his fist at a fan, has received a four-game suspension from Major League Baseball.

According to U.S. sports media 'Yardbarker' on the 21st (Korea time), Major League Baseball has imposed a suspension on Santana in relation to an incident involving a fan during an away game against the Detroit Tigers recently held at Detroit's Comerica Park.

A video shot by several fans shows Santana making threatening gestures by swinging his hands aggressively at a fan who was seated just above the bullpen. The fan appeared to be a Pittsburgh supporter, and Santana displayed an agitated reaction until he was restrained by the bullpen coaching staff and his teammates.

In a post-game interview, Santana expressed his unpleasant feelings, saying, "That fan said things that crossed the line several times. This is my first experience with something like this in Major League Baseball."

It is common for professional athletes to be exposed to jeers and mockery, but especially when the bullpen is located directly below the stands, the risk of direct provocation becomes greater. In this regard, there are those who argue that Santana's reaction should not be merely dismissed as a simple emotional outburst.

However, Major League Baseball adheres to a zero-tolerance policy regarding physical altercations with fans. Even if a fan engages in excessive behavior, it is the responsibility of stadium security personnel to intervene.

The league does not permit players to respond on their own, as this is also a measure for the safety of both players and fans.

Meanwhile, Santana made his big-league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 and has since played for the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, and is currently with the Pirates. He has appeared in a total of 237 games, recording 13 wins, 16 losses, 9 saves, 50 holds, and an earned run average of 4.38.

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