MLB star suspended and fined after cell phone flies out of pocket on field while sliding into base

AN MLB star has been banned for a game after his phone fell out of his pocket during a game.

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro, 23, sped around third base in Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Castro slid headfirst into his pocket and his phone – which he claims he forgot was in his pocket – fell onto the lawn.

Third base umpire Adam Hamari saw the phone immediately and showed it to other officials.

Castro handed him to Mike Rebelo, the Pirates’ third base coach, who seemed unimpressed by the El Lano native.

MLB has cracked down on the use of technology during games after it was revealed that the Houston Astros used live TV feeds to steal opposing teams’ signs during their 2017 World Series run.

As such, Castro was given a one-game ban and a fine of an undisclosed amount.

The Pirates star said: “I really want MLB to hear my side of the story and make sure they get my heart behind it all.

“None of this was intentional, I didn’t want any of this to happen.

“I remember getting dressed, putting on my pants, getting something to eat… it never occurred to me that I still had my phone on me

“I walked out there, put my glide pad in my pocket, never felt my phone and just walked out and what happened, happened.

“To be honest, I don’t think there is a professional ball player who would ever go out with the intention of taking out a cell phone.

“It’s terrible that this happened to me.”

With Castro only being suspended for one game, it’s likely that MLB will believe his version of events.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said, “You stay in the game and see things you haven’t seen before.

“It was just a kid who made a mistake.

“It’s just one of those things that we walk away from and tell him, ‘You can’t do that.'”