BOSTON RED SOX slugger Pablo Sandoval was benched for Thursday’s game against the Braves in Atlanta after using his cellphone during a prior game to “like” photos on Instagram.
Manager John Farrell dropped Sandoval from the lineup and the third baseman acknowledged it was for breaking team rules by using his phone during Wednesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Braves.
“It’s one thing I let my team-mates down. Ain’t going to happen no more, so I learned from that,” Sandoval said.
I made a mistake. I learned from that. I’m a human being. I made a mistake so I apologise to my team-mates, to the team, to the organisation.
Sandoval “liked” two photos posted by a woman while he took a restroom break during the game.
A sharp-eyed blogger for Barstool Sports tweeted Wednesday night that he had noticed.
“This is a thing that I pushed the button at the wrong time. I hit a ‘like,’” Sandoval said.
“I was in the bathroom… I just grabbed my phone and checked it.”
Sandoval could face further punishment from Major League Baseball, whose rules prohibit “uniformed personnel, clubhouse staff and equipment staff” from using cellphones or other mobile devices on the field or in the dugout, bullpen or clubhouse immediately before and during games.
