By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
SANTIAGO — Just over 24 hours have passed since the reported scuffle between Dominican Winter League teammates Dylan Cozens and Boog Powell, respective prospects of the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners organizations.
The No. 20-ranked Mariners' prospect needed five stitches near his left eyebrow, and in conversation with La Voz del Fanático's Arving Gonzalez on Sunday, added that he has no lingering negative thoughts regarding his Aguilas Cibaenas teammate. "We’re boys. Sometimes you get into stuff and you hit the wrong button with some people," he said. "It just happened and it’s over with now."
Gonzalez shared to Sports Talk Philly that the fight began when Powell and respective "native Dominican players" made fun of Cozens' difficulties in "recognizing breaking pitches."
Powell was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on June 23 after testing positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a performance-enhancing anabolic steroid. Despite the recent off-the-field distractions, he told Gonzalez he has his sights set on preparing for the upcoming spring training schedule and the subsequent 2017 season ahead with the Mariners.
"I'm looking forward to next season, getting my at-bats here and getting ready for spring training and hopefully doing very well and make the team out of spring," he said. "It's a great experience coming down here. It's my first time out here and I know a couple of the guys just from playing against them in the minor leagues. It's been a lot of fun."
Through 13 games of the winter league, Cozens is batting .208/.309/.458 with four singles, three doubles, three home runs, seven walks and eight RBIs. In one more game, Powell is batting .309/.431/.375 with a 18 singles, one triple, eight walks and three RBIs.
So far neither organization has yet to confirm, nor comment on the incident.