Astros right-hander Phil Maton told reporters today, including Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, that he fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right pinkie finger after punching his locker on Wednesday. He has already had surgery and won’t be able to return this season.
Maton, 29, has just finished his sixth MLB season, throwing 65 2/3 innings out of Houston’s bullpen. He registered a 3.84 ERA along with a 26% strikeout rate, 8.5% walk rate and 38.2% ground ball rate. He moved into higher leverage positions this season, earning 14 holds after never previously cracking double digits.
Brian McTaggart of MLB.com tweeted video of Maton’s comments, where the reliever relays that he punched his locker because he was upset with how his outing went. It’s unknown if it’s related, but Wednesday was the final game of the season wherein his brother, Nick Maton of the Phillies, singled off him. Phil goes on to describe his actions as “short-sighted” and “selfish” before hoping that his absence doesn’t hurt the team. He says he’s expected to be in a cast for the next eight weeks but will be ready for Spring Training.
The Astros are set to begin their ALDS series against the Mariners and will now do so without Maton. He had a strong showing with Houston in the playoffs last year, throwing 12 1/3 innings with a 0.73 ERA, though he won’t be able to contribute this time around. Maton is earning $1.55MM this year and can be retained for one more season via arbitration. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects that Maton would earn a raise into the vicinity of $2.5MM for next year.
PSA to MLB pitchers: STOP PUNCHING THINGS
We need to remake Bull Durham, just to reiterate the most important message: you punch with your non-pitching hand!
Ok but the ripple of it being against his brother needs to be taken into context here. Brother on brother relationships can be brutal!
What a genius
Perhaps next year we can start a pool to predict which pitcher will do this.
I’m in. hmu on myspace
I’m a Guardians fan. It’ll be Zach Plesac again.
You should’ve seen the locker… The Astros have brought in the country’s best welders to ensure it’s ready next season.
No garbage can available to bang on?
Idiot
Not a banner day for the Maton boys.
They can watch the games together…
What a knucklehead. He gave up 2 hits and 2 runs, but the Astros still won that meaningless game. MLB may want to up the frequency on his PED tests.
Punched the locker after giving up a hit to his bro in a meaningless game?
Consider this, what if both brothers were extremely competitive? A mere single to us fans means nothing, but it likely means months if not years of hell for him. Brotherly relationships can be brutal if theyre competitive as they often are.
There’s a term for this: family disfunction.
Maton on Maton crime.
If he would get hell for years for giving up a single, he’ll be ridiculed for decades for breaking his hand punching a locker.
Yea. He was visibly angry on the mound and his bro was taunting him after the hit.
Toxic family biz on main, hate to see it
I guess Dad will have to take away their ice cream privileges following the game. It’s a shame.
Does he still get a share of post-season money? He shouldn’t. It wasn’t a natural injury but self-inflicted, and he shouldn’t be rewarded for his stupidity.
One brother was gifted an arm … the other a brain
He did the Astros a favor. He was their worst guy in the pen.
What an idiot.