The Detroit Tigers announced Thursday minor-league pitcher Warwick Saupold has been suspended five games after his arrest following a bar fight in Toledo, Ohio on Sunday.
Saupold, pitching for the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate in Toledo, was charged with simple assault following an altercation outside a bar across the street from Fifth Third Field where the Mud Hens play.
“We’re aware of the situation,” Dave Littlefield, vice president of player development for the Tigers, told the Detroit Free Press after the arrest. “It’s a private matter involving Warwick and we’ll let the legal system follow its course.”
Also arrested in the incident were Pittsburgh Pirates minor-leaguers Gift Ngoepe and Dovydas Neverauskas of the Indianapolis Indians, and another man Andrey Goncharuk.
According to a police report, Saupold punched Goncharuk in the face with a closed fist after an argument between the pair.
The same report states Ngoepe allegedly wrapped his arms around an officer, and attempted to get away from police as they tried to arrest him, while Neverauskas grabbed an officer who was arresting his teammate.
Ngoepe was charged with one count of simple assault and two counts of resisting arrest, while Neverauskas was charged with two counts of resisting arrest and one count of misconduct. Goncharuk was also charged with assault.
The 26-year-old Saupold is a native of Perth, Australia, whose been with the Tigers organization since 2012. He owns a career 7.45 ERA across six appearances in the big leagues.
