LOS ANGELES — Controversy has once again taken center stage in Major League Baseball as the Dodgers are demanding accountability following MLB’s decision to reduce Padres closer Robert Suarez’s suspension for hitting Shohei Ohtani with a 100-mph pitch during a heated series finale. The league’s move has ignited backlash from fans, players, and especially the Dodgers’ clubhouse.
MLB Reduces Suspension, Dodgers Call for Justice
Originally suspended for three games, Suarez’s penalty was reduced to two games after appeal. He will serve the suspension during the Padres’ upcoming series against the Nationals and Reds. Suarez opted to drop his appeal once the reduction was announced, which many critics see as a sign of implicit guilt.
But for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the damage wasn’t just to Ohtani — it was to the integrity of the game.
“That’s a hard throw… clearly there was intent behind it,” Roberts said. “It’s 3–0, a right-handed pitcher throwing up and in to Shohei? Absolutely it was intentional.”
Roberts went on to state that the Dodgers are calling on MLB for a public apology, claiming the reduced punishment sends the wrong message about player safety and intent.
A Series Marked by Tension
The Suarez pitch was the boiling point in a four-game series that had already seen eight batters hit, two bench-clearing incidents, and both managers ejected. Roberts and Padres skipper Mike Shildt each served one-game suspensions following the chaos.
The spark? Dodgers rookie Jack Little hit Fernando Tatís Jr. in Game 3, prompting swift retaliation from the Padres in the series finale. Suarez’s pitch to Ohtani wasn’t just a ball—it was a statement.
What’s at Stake?
Suarez is no fringe player — he’s the National League saves leader (22) with a solid 3.51 ERA. His presence is vital to San Diego’s bullpen, which is why the Dodgers are especially critical of what they view as a “light” consequence for a dangerous act.
“If the league’s not going to protect its biggest stars, who will?” one anonymous Dodgers player told a local reporter.
Suarez will serve his two-game suspension beginning Wednesday. The Dodgers have not ruled out issuing a formal complaint to MLB.
Calls for stricter enforcement of hit-by-pitch discipline are expected to grow louder as the All-Star break nears.
At the center of this storm is Shohei Ohtani — MLB’s most marketable, most-watched superstar — and a pitch that Dodgers claim never should’ve been thrown. With MLB already under scrutiny for its handling of player discipline and replay reviews, this incident has once again spotlighted a fundamental question:
Is baseball doing enough to protect its stars? For now, the Dodgers are still waiting — not for another pitch, but for an apology.