Rockies player benched after flipping off Braves fans, caught on video giving the bird
Colorado rookie Cole Carrigg flips off Braves fans, earns benching
ATLANTA – Colorado Rockies rookie center‑fielder Cole Carrigg was put in the doghouse after he turned his back on Atlanta Braves fans during the Rockies’ 2‑1 loss at Truist Park on Saturday.
Carrigg, 20, was chasing a fly ball from Michael Harris II in the seventh inning when the ball slipped past him and turned into a two‑run double for the Braves, putting the game out of reach. The miss and the subsequent loss were a hard blow to a team that had been riding a 1‑0 lead.
In the moments that followed, Carrigg lost his temper. He flipped the middle finger toward the Braves dugout and the stands, a gesture that did not sit well with either the fans or the Rockies’ front office. “Cole made a mistake, and he knows that is an embarrassment to the organization and that we don’t stand for that,” said manager Warren Schaeffer. “Listen, everybody makes mistakes. It is just one that he has to learn from. It is just that we will not put up with that here.”
Schaeffer announced that Carrigg would be held out of the starting lineup for the next couple of days. The rookie was, however, allowed to pinch‑hit in the series finale, going 0‑2 with a strikeout before returning to the field at center. He also filled in at shortstop later in the game.
After the benching decision, Carrigg addressed the situation publicly. “First, I apologize to my teammates and the organization, that’s not how I want to represent us,” he said. “That’s inexcusable on my part.” He went on to pledge that he would play at “110 percent” in every game and “give my all to this team and to the game to try to win ballgames.” Carrigg added that he respects the passion of Braves fans, but noted, “That gesture can’t happen.”
The incident is another reminder that disrespectful conduct toward fans or teammates rarely goes unpunished in Major League Baseball. For Carrigg, the lesson will likely be a key part of his early career development as he seeks to establish himself as a dependable contributor for the Rockies.