Jose Bautista is done staying quiet about the the scuffle against the Texas Rangers.

Overshadowed by the punch to Bautista's jaw by Rougned Odor on May 19 was the double-play turn from the second baseman. The throw from Odor came close to hitting the right fielder in the head, and Toronto Blue Jays slugger is certain it wasn't an accident.

"I've been playing baseball for a long time," Bautista told Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci in an exclusive interview. "I know exactly what he was trying to do when he threw the ball. He tried a hundred percent to hit me in the face.

"And it's not the first time he's done it against me or some of my teammates. And there's video to prove that."

Bautista, who later earned a one-game suspension while Odor got seven after a successful appeal, acknowledged he played a major role in the benches clearing after he went in hard with a slide.

He went on to say that he did it in retaliation for the hit by pitch from Matt Bush earlier in the inning because it might have been his only opportunity to do so. But although it was an overly aggressive slide, Bautista said he had no intention of hurting Odor, and just wanted to send a message.

“I could have hit him,” Bautista said. “I could have hurt him. I chose not to. My cleats were down. I slid through the bag. Was it late? Yes, a hundred percent. But what can I do after they hit me? Should I ask my manager to let me pitch, which he is never going to let me do?

"Like, what am I supposed to do? Just sit there and take it?”