Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday the conclusion of their investigation into Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, who will not be punished under the league’s domestic violence policy.
MLB did reserve the right to reopen the investigation if they uncover or are presented with “any new information or evidence.” The investigation came as a result of Puig’s scuffle with a bouncer outside a Miami nightclub last November.
Neither side pressed charges, though it was alleged the incident began after Puig was physical with his sister. That sparked MLB’s investigation, their second, since the league overhauled the domestic violence policy.
It was first reported last December that MLB had yet to find evidence of Puig getting physical with his sister.
Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was the first to be subject to it. Reyes was placed on paid leave pending completion of his case in Hawaii.
The Dodgers again found themselves tied to a domestic dispute in December with their near trade for closer Arolids Chapman. Los Angeles had an agreement in place to acquire Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds, only for a report of his involvement in a domestic dispute at his home last October to surface and put the trade on hold.
The Dodgers elected to back away from the deal, and Chapman was later traded to the New York Yankees. Earlier this month, it was announced Chapman received a 30-game suspension.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has the authority to hand down a punishment independent of criminal charges or lack thereof, under the league’s revamped domestic violence policy.
