New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was suspended 30 games by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday. Chapman’s suspension closed the books on the league’s investigation into his involvement in a domestic dispute at his Florida home last October.
In the reported incident, Chapman is alleged to have choked his girlfriend, and acknowledged firing eight bullets from a gun while locked inside his garage. Chapman denies physically harming his girlfriend, though won’t appeal the ruling.
The suspension is the first since MLB and the MLB Players Association worked to overhaul and implement a new domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy last August.
Along with Chapman’s case, the league is investigating Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig under the new policy.
Reyes, who was arrested and is facing criminal charges, was placed on paid leave by Manfred pending completion of the criminal case in Hawaii.
Puig was involved in a fight last November with a bouncer outside a Miami bar. Neither party pressed charges, though Puig was said to have gotten physical with his sister, which sparked the fight and subsequently, MLB’s investigation.
Unlike Chapman, the 25-year-old outfielder is not expected to be suspended, according to ESPN:
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is not expected to be suspended for an alleged domestic violence incident involving his sister, sources familiar with Major League Baseball’s investigation told ESPN’s Pedro Gomez.
It was previously reported evidence was not found to support the claim Puig shoved his sister. He was permitted to take part in MLB’s goodwill tour to Cuba last December, lending further credence to the notion disciplinary action was unlikely.
