Framber Valdez was ejected for hitting Trevor Story with a pitch during a game at Comerica Park on May 5, 2026. This incident led to a bench-clearing altercation between the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox.
The ejection occurred early in the fourth inning. Valdez hit Story with a 94 mph fastball after giving up back-to-back home runs. He had not recorded an out in that inning.
Valdez’s outing was disastrous. He allowed 10 runs—seven earned—on nine hits and one walk in just three-plus innings. This performance marked his worst outing; he had never given up more than eight runs in a game before.
The Red Sox ultimately won the game 10-3. Valdez is in his first season with the Tigers, having signed a three-year contract worth $115 million, which set an MLB record for the highest average annual value guaranteed to a left-handed pitcher at $38.3 million.
Both teams received warnings against retaliation following the incident. Valdez did not protest his ejection and walked off the mound into the clubhouse.
A.J. Hinch, manager of the Tigers, acknowledged the situation’s optics, stating, “I understand the frustration. I understand the optics. I understand the whole thing.” Meanwhile, Valdez insisted it was not intentional: “It was not on purpose. It might look like that, but it wasn’t.”
This incident raises questions about Valdez’s performance and its implications for his future with the team. He currently holds a 4.57 ERA over eight starts this season.
