Reds' Garrett: 5-game suspension taught me 'not to have fun'

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Amir Garrett returned from a five-game suspension against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday and admitted that while the hiatus was "pretty tough," he did learn a lesson from his ban.

"I learned not to have fun," the 29-year-old southpaw said, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Major League Baseball issued a seven-game suspension - later reduced to five games - and an undisclosed fine to Garrett for inciting a benches-clearing incident between the Reds and Chicago Cubs on May 1.

Garrett admitted the length of his suspension caught him off guard, especially considering the league only fined Cubs infielder Javier Baez for hopping the rail during the altercation.

"I was surprised that I got that many games," he explained. "I'm not going to talk about it too much or throw others under the bus, but I think that was kind of steep, the five games. But it is what it is. I understand they probably wanted to make an example out of me. I'll be the example, it's all good. I can take it."

Garrett was Cincinnati's latest player to receive a ban from MLB.

Nick Castellanos was suspended two games in April for instigating a benches-clearing incident after standing over top of pitcher Jake Woodford and shouting to celebrate scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals.