NEW YORK – Texas Rangers (search) pitcher Kenny Rogers (search) was suspended for 20 games and fined $50,000 by Major League Baseball on Friday for an outburst that sent a television cameraman to the hospital and prompted a police investigation.
There was no immediate word on whether Rogers would appeal the penalty.
Rogers shoved two cameramen before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels in a tirade that included throwing a camera to the ground, kicking it and threatening to break more. The incident was captured on videotape and led to KDFW cameraman Larry Rodriguez being treated at a hospital.
Rodriguez filed an assault report, and Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said the case was being investigated as a misdemeanor assault. Rogers hadn't been interviewed by investigators and no charges had been filed Thursday.
In a statement Friday before the ruling, Rogers' attorneys said: "Kenny Rogers would like to make a statement. However, in light of the ongoing investigation, it is not advisable for Kenny to comment directly and publicly at this time.
"On Kenny's behalf, though, we would like to express to Mr. Rodriguez, Ranger fans, all baseball fans and his teammates that Kenny is truly sorry for the incident that occurred and regrets that it happened."
Rogers, who missed his last start with a broken pinkie he suffered during an outburst earlier this month, erupted at the cameramen as they filmed him walking to the field for pregame stretching before Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels (search).
The 40-year-old left-hander first shoved Fox Sports Net Southwest photographer David Mammeli, telling him: "I told you to get those cameras out of my face."
Rogers then approached a second cameraman. He wrestled the camera from Rodriguez, threw it to the ground and kicked it.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound pitcher saw two other cameramen who were recording from the Rangers' dugout and walked toward them. He did not make contact with the men, who were backing away.
"I'll break every ... one of them," Rogers said before he was escorted to the clubhouse by catcher Rod Barajas.
The Rangers sent Rogers home about an hour later.
Footage shot by Dallas-Fort Worth station KTVT shows Rogers pushing Rodriguez's camera, which goes over the photographer's head and falls to the ground. As Rodriguez puts the camera back on his shoulder, Rogers approaches again, pushing the lens away and having words with the photographer.
As players begin to intervene, Rogers pulls the camera to the ground and kicks it before walking away.
Rogers missed his turn Tuesday night against the Angels because of a small broken bone in his right pinkie. Rogers was hurt after he came out of a game against Washington on June 17. Video clips showed him knocking multiple coolers to the ground, then looking at his right hand.
Rogers has refused to talk to reporters all season, and on Tuesday night ordered television cameras turned off around him. He has boycotted most media since a report before spring training that he threatened to retire if he wasn't given a contract extension.
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