In news reminiscent of a Mick Tyson and Evander Holyfield boxing match, Los Angeles Dodgers prospect, Alex Guerrero, had his ear partially bitten off by a teammate.
Guerrero’s agent, Scott Boras, confirmed to ESPN.com that his client was taken to a hospital and will undergo plastic surgery to have his ear reattached.
The Cuban infielder and his Albuquerque Isotopes teammate, Miguel Olivo, got into a dugout scuffle during the eighth inning of a game against the Salt Lake Bees on Tuesday.
CBS Sports noted that Boras said Olivo punched Guerrero first and then after having his arms restrained by others in the dugout, took a bite out of Guerrero’s ear. Another person who spoke to the team’s personnel said that part of the ear actually fell onto the dugout floor.
"It's assault and battery," Boras said. "There's nothing he could have said to prompt this."
The altercation and alleged ear-biting incident apparently started because Olivo, the team's catcher, took exception when Guerrero, who was playing shortstop, could not tag out a base stealer. The two then had words.
The 27-year-old Guerrero is in the first year of a four-year, $28-million contract with the Dodgers.