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Isotopes’ Olivo goes Mike Tyson on teammate

Albuquerque IsotopesThis should be one of the most unusual MiLB stories of the year: Alex Guerrero had part of his ear bitten off by Miguel Olivo when the two Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) scuffled in a dugout dispute.

Shortstop Alex Guerrero, a 27-year-old Cuban defector who signed a big contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, is a prospect after starting the season with the big-league team; the journeyman 35-year-old Olivo less so, as the catcher has certainly bounced around during his time in professional baseball. And while spats in the dugout aren’t uncommon, physical altercations like this are. From the Deseret News:

Guerrero was taken to a Salt Lake hospital following the incident but refused to file a complaint against his teammate, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Olivo appeared to get upset at Guerrero after the Cuban infielder failed to apply a tag on a stolen-base attempt. The two nearly came to blows on the mound during a pitching change before things escalated in the dugout following the inning.

“They were yelling at each other in the middle of the field every time the pitching coach came out,” Salt Lake catcher Luis Martinez said. “I might be mad at an infielder, but I’m not going to take it out on him in the middle of the field. I’m going to take him to the side and talk it out with him. It wasn’t handled the right way.”

UPDATED: Olivo has been released by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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