Astros' Gurriel to receive 5-game ban in 2018 for racist gesture

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will serve a five-game suspension for making an inappropriate gesture during Game 3 of the World Series. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Gurriel will serve the suspension, without pay, at the beginning of the 2018 season.

The suspension follows Gurriel's actions in Friday night's World Series game when the first baseman made a racist gesture following a home run he hit off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish.

The 33-year-old has elected not to appeal the suspension, according to a statement from the MLBPA.

Gurriel's suspension will also require him to attend sensitivity training in the offseason, and the team will be donating his lost salary to charity.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow released a statement on Saturday supporting both Gurriel and MLB's decision to suspend him.

The decision did not come easily in determining that the suspension take place in 2018 instead of during the World Series.

"I understand people will have different views but it is my best judgment that this is the appropriate timing," Manfred said.

In meeting with Manfred, Gurriel told the commissioner that he would make a private apology to Darvish.

Gurriel is batting fifth in the Astros' lineup in Saturday night's Game 4 against the Dodgers.