Rockies player Cole Carrigg benched after gesture towards Braves fans

<p>Colorado Rockies rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg was benched after making an obscene gesture towards Atlanta Braves fans during a game on August 30, 2026, at Truist Park. The incident occurred during the Rockies' 2-1 loss, where Carrigg dove for a fly ball hit by Michael Harris II but failed to catch it, leading to a two-run double for the Braves.</p><p>As Braves fans reacted to the play, Carrigg responded by flipping them off. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer condemned the gesture, stating that Carrigg would not be in the starting lineup for a few days. Schaeffer said, "Cole made a mistake, and he knows that is an embarrassment to the organization and that we don't stand for that. Listen, everybody makes mistakes. It is just one that he has to learn from. It is just that we will not put up with that here."</p><p>Despite being held out of the starting lineup on August 31, Carrigg entered the game as a pinch hitter, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout, and later played in center field and shortstop.</p><p>Carrigg acknowledged his mistake, stating, "First, I apologize to my teammates and the organization, that's not how I want to represent us. That's inexcusable on my part. With that being said, I'm somebody who's going to play at 110 percent every game and give my all to this team and to the game to try to win ballgames. That was a play that I felt could or could not have won the game, so I'm very passionate about that. Braves fans are pretty passionate themselves. Kudos to them. But that gesture can't happen."</p>