Major League Baseball

Bitten by Dodgers blues: Minor leaguer bites teammate's ear

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:22 p.m. ET

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Fights happen in baseball. Some are benches-clearing brawls between teams. Others are among teammates behind closed doors. Rarely do they recall Mike Tyson biting off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear. But that is precisely what happened Tuesday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Catcher Miguel Olivo and shortstop Alex Guerrero — teammates on the Albuquerque Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers — became engaged in a dugout scuffle during a game against the Salt Lake Bees. In the process, Olivo bit Guerrero and “displaced” a portion of Guerrero’s ear, Scott Boras, Guerrero’s agent, told FOX Sports 1.

Guerrero underwent plastic surgery Monday as a result of the injury, Boras said. He could be out for up to five weeks, a source confirmed.

While the Dodgers did not immediately announce whether either player would be disciplined, they issued the following statement: “The baseball operations department is aware of the altercation and is conducting an investigation into the matter. The organization does not condone this type of behavior and will have no further comment at this time.”

Det. Greg Wilking of the Salt Lake City Police Department told FOX Sports 1 that it is “up in the air” as to whether charges will be filed. Wilking said Guerrero’s wishes will factor heavily into the next steps taken by law enforcement. If Guerrero wishes to press charges, Salt Lake Police will open a formal investigation. If Guerrero declines to pursue a criminal case, it’s unlikely local authorities will initiate an investigation on their own.

Wilking said a patrol officer had established contact with Guerrero, who indicated he wished to speak with an attorney and/or baseball officials before making a decision. Guerrero, a native of Cuba, is said to speak limited English.

“The ball is in (Guerrero’s) court, so to speak,” Wilking said. 

Boras said the incident began because Olivo was upset about a play in the field that involved Guerrero. According to Boras, Olivo approached Guerrero in the dugout and punched him; after teammates restrained Olivo's arms, he bit Guerrero.

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