HEADLINE

Pirates’ Crick out for year after fight with teammate Vazquez

Field Level Media

September 11, 2019 at 3:23 am.

A pregame altercation between Pittsburgh relievers Kyle Crick and Felipe Vazquez on Monday in San Francisco led to Crick having season-ending hand surgery the following day, the Pirates announced Tuesday night.

Crick, a three-year veteran, had surgery to repair the extensor tendon on the index finger of his right hand, according to a release by the Pirates. The right-hander appeared in 52 games this season, with a 3-7 record and a 4.96 ERA.

The announcement did not indicate the nature of the altercation between Crick and Vazquez, the team’s closer, but it quoted general manager Neal Huntington saying “the behavior exhibited by these two players last night is unacceptable, inconsistent with the standards expected of a Major League player and will not be tolerated by the organization.”

Both players have been fined for the clubhouse fracas, the team said, but the amounts were not disclosed.

Crick is expected to be ready for spring training, the team said.

The left-handed Vazquez, a fifth-year major-leaguer who was thought to be a hot commodity as the trade deadline neared but was not dealt, entered play Tuesday at 5-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 54 games for the Pirates, who are in last place in the National League Central.

Vazquez picked up his 26th save in Monday night’s 6-4 win over the Giants.

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