It was a night to forget for Framber Valdez at Comerica Park on May 5, 2026. The Detroit Tigers pitcher struggled through an outing that spiraled out of control. Just as he appeared to be settling in, he hit Boston Red Sox infielder Trevor Story with a 94 mph fastball—setting off a chain reaction that led to a bench-clearing incident.
Valdez’s troubles began before the fourth inning even started. He had already surrendered back-to-back home runs, leaving his team trailing. In the blink of an eye, things went from bad to worse. Without recording an out in the fourth, he plunked Story, and chaos erupted on the field.
Key events leading up to the ejection:
- Valdez allowed 10 runs (seven earned) across three-plus innings.
- This marked his first time giving up more than eight runs in a game.
- The Red Sox were leading 10-3 when he hit Story.
As players from both teams rushed onto the field, tempers flared. Coaches and players grappled with each other as officials attempted to restore order. Chad Tracy, a member of the Tigers’ coaching staff, voiced his belief that Valdez’s actions were intentional: “Yes, I do think it was weak, and I thought everybody saw it.” But Valdez himself refuted this claim—”It was not intentional. It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn’t,” he said.
The aftermath of the incident left many questions unanswered. Both teams received warnings against retaliation, which added tension to an already charged atmosphere. A.J. Hinch, manager of the Tigers, acknowledged the situation: “I understand the frustration. I understand the optics. I understand the whole thing.”
Valdez’s performance this season has been shaky; he currently holds a 4.57 ERA across eight starts. This ejection marks another hurdle in his first year with the Tigers after signing a record-breaking three-year contract worth $115 million—a deal that guarantees him an average annual value of $38.3 million as a left-handed pitcher.
As players returned to their respective dugouts and order was restored on the field, Valdez walked off into the clubhouse without protest—a sign of resignation after such a tumultuous outing. The Red Sox ultimately took home a decisive victory against the Tigers with a score of 10-3.