Rockies Pitcher Holds Nothing Back With “Disrespectful” Claim After Rafael Devers Sparks Fiery Bench-Clearing Brawl

It was barely the first inning at Coors Field when what normally would be a routine NL West game turned into chaos. Rafael Devers launched a two-run homer off Rockies ace Kyle Freeland, but it wasn’t just the ball leaving the park; it was the words he fired at Freeland while rounding first base. The tension was immediate, electric, and spread like wildfire. Everyone, from teammates to coaches, could sense the storm coming their way.

From the Rockies’ bullpen, reliever Jimmy Herget watched the scene unfold while still getting ready. No hat. No spikes. Mid-prep, he realized this wasn’t going to be a routine inning. As the benches began to stir and players started moving toward the infield, Herget knew he had a choice: stay on the sidelines or step in to protect his teammates.

“As soon as it started, I wasn’t even fully dressed,” Herget said. “I was just getting ready to head down, and when stuff like that happens, your main goal is making sure teammates are okay, protected, and nobody gets blindsided. In that moment, it’s my teammate out there, so I go out and protect them, no matter what.”

What followed was chaos in motion. Benches cleared, coaches flooded the field, and punches flew as the infield resembled a battlefield. Devers, still fired up, didn’t even finish his home run until the umpires reminded him to touch the bases. Freeland, along with the Giants’ Willy Adames and Matt Chapman, was ejected, leaving both teams scrambling. Antonio Senzatela replaced Freeland, stepping into a game that already felt like playoff-level intensity.

Herget also reflected on baseball’s evolving culture. “The game has shifted,” he said. “We’re more accepting of guys celebrating, doing backflips, or admiring home runs. I don’t mind a tasteful backflip or a little hop, but if it takes 12 seconds to get to first base, that’s going to be an issue. I don’t blame pitchers for getting upset when they feel shown up.”

Tuesday night wasn’t just another NL West game; it was a stark reminder that in baseball, loyalty to your teammates can override all else. For Herget and the Rockies, the message was clear: when a teammate is involved, you step in, you defend, and you make sure the game’s unspoken rules of respect are enforced, no matter the fallout.

Home run heat: Freeland takes issue with Rafael Devers’ celebration

Kyle Freeland didn’t hold back. After Rafael Devers crushed a first-inning home run into the right-field seats, the Rockies’ starter barked at the slugger as he slowly walked out of the batter’s box, admiring the ball’s flight. Freeland made it clear he found the celebration disrespectful. “I found it extremely disrespectful to show me up like that in the first inning, after hitting the home run, standing there watching it, taking your sweet time getting down to first base,” he said. “I’ve been in this league for quite some time. I know he has as well. I just find that extremely disrespectful and felt that I needed to let him know about that.”

Devers had a different take on things. He later explained through his interpreter that as far as he was concerned, he hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” Devers said. “I didn’t do anything different from when I hit a home run. I don’t know why it bothered him.” The scene quickly turned ugly as the confrontation between players escalated into a full-blown brawl. Devers’ teammates didn’t think about jumping to defend him. Matt Chapman, the baseman, and Willy Adames, the shortstop, were right in the thick of it, pushing back against Freeland and trying to shield their teammate. It was a display of loyalty, one that revealed the tight bond that exists among the Giants even when emotions are running hot and the stakes are high.

The clubhouse echoed that sentiment. Giants starter Logan Webb wasn’t surprised by Freeland’s reaction. “Surprised it hasn’t happened before with that guy,” Webb said. “He runs his mouth a lot of the time. Rafi got him good.” Heliot Ramos added, “He’s like that.” Meanwhile, Devers praised the support from his teammates. “That’s what a team does,” he said. “We’re a very united team. In situations like that, that’s what we should do. Stick up for each other.” The incident underscored not just the personal clash between Devers and Freeland but also the solidarity of the Giants roster, even during a season full of ups and downs.