Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said a decision would be forthcoming quickly about a ban against Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, but Colorado shortstop Jose Reyes would not face more discipline until his legal matters are settled.
Puig, a 25-year-old Cuban outfielder, has been investigated for his role in an alleged domestic assault, while Reyes faces a trial next month on charges of domestic assault against his wife in Hawaii.
“I think the single biggest mistake you can make here is to make a decision quickly and then have additional facts come out afterward and undermine the quality of that decision,” Manfred said regarding Reyes.
Puig was allegedly involved in an incident with a bouncer at a Miami bar in November last year that included an altercation between Puig and his sister.
“The investigation is essentially complete,” Manfred said. “We will have something on Puig shortly.”
New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was the first player suspended under Major League Baseball’s new domestic violence policy. Chapman’s alleged domestic violence incident in Florida led to no formal charges, but Manfred found grounds for a 30-game suspension for the 28-year-old Cuban-born left-handed pitcher after a league probe.
Reyes was placed on paid leave before the start of spring training as part of the domestic violence policy. He faces a criminal case starting April 4 and Manfred is to decide about any action against him once a final ruling is handed down.
Dominican Reyes, 32, batted .274 with seven home runs and 53 runs batted in last season for the Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado. He is a career .290 hitter with 118 homers and 621 runs batted in.
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