Major League Baseball fined and suspended New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson for a game on Monday after remarks he made on Saturday toward Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson led to a benches-clearing spat, the league announced. Donaldson, who was placed on the COVID-19 injured list on Monday, will appeal the suspension.

Donaldson, by his own admission, addressed Anderson as "Jackie" during an interaction between the two in the third inning. "Jackie" is a reference to Jackie Robinson, who integrated MLB in 1947 as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Anderson and his White Sox teammates took exception to the comment, with catcher Yasmani Grandal later confronting Donaldson during his at-bat in the fifth inning. Both benches spilled onto the field as part of the confrontation, but no ejections were made.

"There is no dispute over what was said on the field. Regardless of Mr. Donaldson's intent, the comment he directed toward Mr. Anderson was disrespectful and in poor judgment, particularly when viewed in the context of their prior interactions," MLB's Senior Vice President for On-Field Operations Michael Hill said in a statement. "In addition, Mr. Donaldson's remark was a contributing factor in a bench-clearing incident between the teams, and warrants discipline."