Despite allegations of domestic violence, pitcher Mike Clevinger was in practice with the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said allowing his player to be with the team until the investigation into the end of Major League Baseball is “the only option.”
In an interview after training, the 32-year-old said he was happy to be back on the pitch despite the circumstances.
“I’m excited to be here and excited for the opportunity the White Sox have given me. I am terribly sorry for my teammates who have to answer questions about this situation. I trust the procedures put in place by the League. […] I ask everyone to wait before rushing to judgment. Wait for the real facts to come out. Wait until there’s real evidence and then decide who you think I am,” Clevinger told reporters.
In this regard, Illinois formation coach Pedro Grifol does not believe that the gunner’s presence will affect his team.
“I don’t think it will be a distraction. He spoke to the players and we’ll leave that in the dressing room. We have good veterans and I think we’re going to do a good job of dealing with any distractions that might come our way,” he said, still according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Recall that in January, Major League Baseball decided to open an investigation after the mother of one of her daughters, Olivia Finestead, made allegations of domestic violence. She alleges that Clevinger strangled her and engaged in several other abusive acts, as well as throwing chewing tobacco at her daughter, who was 10 months old at the time of the events.
Ms Finestead had directly challenged the league on social media.
“I hope that [le baseball majeur] will do what is necessary and ask him to go into therapy, maybe even a little suspension so he can take the time to really think about why he is abusing children and their mothers,” she said.