Kansas City Royals RHP Yordano Ventura begins serving ban

The Kansas City Royals said that starting pitcher Yordano Ventura began serving an eight-game suspension Saturday for his part in a benches-clearing brawl with the Baltimore Orioles on June 7.

Ventura will be eligible to return on June 28 when Kansas City Royals plays the St. Louis Cardinals.

The original nine-game suspension was reduced after Ventura appealed it.

The suspension stems from when Ventura nailed Machado in the back with a 99 mph fastball in the fifth inning of the Orioles' 9-1 win over the Royals. Machado charged the mound and punched Ventura in the face. The benches then emptied and a brawl ensued.

Machado was handed a four-game ban, which he is yet to serve. Ventura and Machado were also fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball.

Ventura has started two games since the incident. He won Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers. He will likely miss one start.