In the midst of the Philadelphia Phillies’ late-season collapse in the final two months of the 2018 campaign, Carlos Santana apparently provided the biggest hit in the team’s clubhouse.
As the Phillies’ young team lost 20 of their 28 games in September, after having had the best record in baseball in late July, the team’s former first baseman – who was traded to the Seattle Mariners in December – reportedly discovered younger teammates playing video game Fortnite in the clubhouse during one game against rivals Atlanta. The 32-year-old veteran promptly slugged the television the players were using with a bat.
“I see a couple players – I don’t want to say names – they play video games during the game,” Santana told ESPN in a report published on Monday. “We come and lose too many games, and I feel like they weren’t worried about it – weren’t respecting their teammates or coaches or the staff or the office. It’s not my personality. But I’m angry because I want to make it good.”
Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta said he had only seen Fortnite played “once or twice”, but Santana was adamant he made the right decision. “I don’t know what happened,” Santana said, “But I’ve never seen that in my life – during the game, playing video games. It’s not professional. Each team is everybody all together. I understand we’re eliminated for the season, but you have to have pride.”
Phillies general manager Matt Klentak told ESPN that the incident was not related to Santana’s subsequent trade, adding it was “tough to include him in the trade with Seattle, but sometimes you have to trade good players to acquire other good players.”
Santana, who hit 24 home runs last season, has since joined the Cleveland Indians from the Mariners.