During a game against the Yankees, Framber Valdez hit Cesar Salazar in the chest with a 93 mph pitch after giving up a grand slam.
Speculation arose that the hit was intentional due to frustration over a crossed-up pitch call.
Valdez and Salazar both stated the incident was unintentional, attributing it to a miscommunication with the PitchCom transmitter.
Astros manager Joe Espada addressed the media, expressing his desire to move past the controversy and focus on baseball.
The incident occurred during a game where the Yankees were leading. After a grand slam by Trent Grisham, Valdez's next pitch hit Salazar, leading to immediate speculation about his intent.
Valdez apologized, stating that he and Salazar "got crossed up." Salazar supported this, saying he pressed the wrong button on his PitchCom. Manager Joe Espada held a meeting to discuss the situation, emphasizing the need to move forward.
While some, like former MLB pitcher Dallas Braden, suggested the hit was intentional, Valdez's agent called such accusations "preposterous." Astros general manager Dana Brown acknowledged Valdez's frustration but supported the claim of miscommunication.
Q: Was the pitch intentional?
Both Valdez and Salazar have stated it was not intentional, attributing it to a miscommunication.
Q: What was the reaction from the Astros management?
Manager Joe Espada addressed the situation, expressing his desire to move past the controversy.
The incident highlights the importance of clear communication between pitchers and catchers.
Despite speculation, those involved deny any intentional wrongdoing.
The Astros are focusing on resolving the issue internally and moving forward.
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