Free-agent pitcher Sam Dyson has accepted a suspension for the entirety of the 2021 season due to a violation of the MLB's joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, the league announced on Friday.
“Consistent with the terms of the policy, Dyson will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program,” the league said in a statement.
“Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Sam Dyson violated our policy and that discipline is appropriate,” Commissioner Rob Manfred added in the official press release.
You can read the full statement below, via Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:
Free-agent pitcher Sam Dyson has accepted a suspension for the entire 2021 season for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. pic.twitter.com/MXwNwXSCR5
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) March 5, 2021
The 32-year old right-hander last pitched for the Minnesota Twins in the 2019 season.
Later in 2019, The Athletic published an investigative report on allegations made by Dyson's former girlfriend, Alexis Blackburn. Multiple women participated in the reporting of the story.
On Nov. 26, 2019, Blackburn alluded to being a victim of domestic violence by an unnamed person in an Instagram post. The person was later confirmed to be Sam Dyson through reporting.
Blackburn accused Dyson of years of physical abuse, including a violent incident involving her cat in November of 2019. In January 2020, both parties spoke to police in Floria after Blackburn filed a police report over the cat incident.
Dyson told police he and Blackburn had a “verbally violent and toxic relationship.”
The Athletic reported that Dyson finally sat down with MLB investigators nearly 10 months after Blackburn first spoke on the alleged abuse. He hasn't pitched in the bigs since the allegations became public.
Sam Dyson is the 13th player to be suspended under the MLB's revised domestic abuse policy, per ESPN.
The reliever has pitched for five different clubs over his eight-year career. He has a career 3.40 career ERA.
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