Marlins' Urena suspended 6 games for plunking Acuna; plans to appeal

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena has been handed a six-game suspension and an undisclosed fine from the league office for hitting Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. during Wednesday's game.

In addition, Braves first base coach Eric Young received a one-game suspension as well as an undisclosed fine for his role in the benches-clearing incident.

Acuna homered to lead off each of the first three games of the four-game set against the Marlins. Urena opted to prevent that from happening in the series finale by plunking the rookie on the left elbow with a 97-mph fastball with his first pitch in the bottom of the first. The six-game ban will cost Urena his next start, though the right-hander's agent told Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald that he plans to appeal the suspension.

Acuna ran the bases for himself, but was replaced defensively in the subsequent frame. X-rays and CT scans came back negative, and Acuna was batting leadoff for Thursday's game against the Colorado Rockies.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly expressed his discontent with Urena following the game, stating that throwing at opposing players is "not something that we represent."

Braves first baseman and MVP candidate Freddie Freeman called Urena's decision "gutless."