Blue Jays pitcher suspended 75 games for alleged domestic violence incident
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roberto Osuna has been suspended 75 games for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy.
Osuna violated the domestic violence part of the policy stemming from his arrest on May 8. He was accused of assaulting his girlfriend and was taken into custody by Toronto police.
Osuna last pitched on May 6 and has been on administrative leave since then. He was originally placed on leave by MLB through May 21, but that leave was then extended five separate times, each for a week in length.
Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement on Friday regarding MLB’s investigation and Osuna’s suspension.
“My office has completed its investigation into the allegation that Roberto Osuna violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy on May 8, 2018,” Manfred said. “Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Osuna violated the Policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will expire on August 4th.”
The suspension is retroactive to May 8 and Osuna has been away from the team since then. July 9 marks the next hearing date, and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported that Osuna’s lawyer, Domenic Basile, says his client will plead not guilty.
Domenic Basile says Roberto Osuna intends to plea not guilty.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) June 18, 2018
Jays manager John Gibbons spoke on the suspension before his team’s loss to the Angels on Friday.
“I don’t have much of a reaction other than you take what MLB does and trust that and live with that and let it go through its course,” Gibbons said.
“We knew something was coming down. Actually, it took a while. Hopefully, it all gets worked out on both sides and everyone gets the help they need and everything works out fine.”
Osuna is in his fourth MLB season and has been the team’s closer since taking over the role midway through his 2015 rookie season.
His nine saves this season match the combined total of all of the other Blue Jays pitchers. After blowing 10 saves last season, Osuna was off to a great start and had just one blown save in 15 appearances.
Osuna was the youngest player in all of baseball in 2015 and is the first player born in 1995 to ever appear in an MLB game.
Earlier this year he set a record by becoming the youngest player in MLB history to reach 100 career saves.
Youngest to 100 Career Saves in MLB History:#BlueJays Roberto Osuna – 23 yrs, 62 days
Francisco Rodriguez – 24 yrs, 246 days
Craig Kimbrel – 24 yrs, 346 days
Chad Cordero – 25 yrs, 86 days— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 11, 2018
Toronto had a 19-16 record with Osuna on the active roster, but they’ve gone just 15-24 since he was placed on leave on May 8.
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