Noah Syndergaard challenges Royals to fight him after first pitch controversy

Noah Syndergaard certainly doesn’t seem too terribly put off by how upset the Kansas City Royals are over his up-and-in first pitch to Alcides Escobar on Friday night.

Not only did Syndergaard admit that the pitch was on purpose, but he essentially challenged the Royals to fight him if they had a problem with it.

Noah Syndergaard does not mince words. He pretty much told the Royals to fight him. pic.twitter.com/RfbzBGEvlU

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 31, 2015

Noah Syndergaard told d'Arnaud in afternoon first pitch would be up and in. "I feel like it really made a statement to start the game off."

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) October 31, 2015

More Syndergaard: "My intent was to make them uncomfortable. And I think I did just that." #mets

— David Lennon (@DPLennon) October 31, 2015

While Syndergaard definitely seemed to make Escobar uncomfortable, striking him out in that at bat, it’s debatable how uncomfortable he actually made the Royals. Six of their next nine hitters reached against Syndergaard, and one of the three that didn’t was pitcher Yordano Ventura, who dropped down a sacrifice bunt.

Syndergaard is listed as 6’4″ and 240 pounds, though, so it’s not really surprising that he’s not scared of a fight.