Blue Jays closer Osuna charged with assault, placed on leave
Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna has been placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball after being charged with assault.
The league said Tuesday it is investigating the circumstances of the charges in accordance with the joint domestic violence policy between the league and the MLB Players Association.
Toronto Police said Osuna will appear in court June 18, but wouldn’t provide more details.
“We are aware of the incident involving Roberto and fully support the decision by the commissioner’s office to place him on administrative leave,” the Jays said in a statement.
“We are taking the matter extremely seriously, as the type of conduct associated with this incident is not reflective of our values as an organization.”
Osuna, 23, is in his fourth MLB season, all with the Blue Jays.
The native of Juan Jose Rios, Mexico, has nine saves in 15 appearances this season with a 2.93 earned-run average and 13 strikeouts.
“Hopefully there’s nothing there,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
“I love the kid not because of what he’s done for us on the field but because of who he is and my relationship with him over the years,” he added.
“But really in society in general there’s got to be zero tolerance. You’ve got to protect the vulnerable and those who can’t protect themselves a lot. Hopefully when it’s all said and done he’s back with us and it’s all behind him and things turn out fine,” he said.
Gibbons said it remains to be seen who will take over the closer role.
“We’ll see how the games develop,” he said. “We got a few guys who can do it. (Tyler) Clippard, (Ryan) Tepera can do it, (Seung Hwan) Oh can do it. Ax (John Axford) can even do it. Still feel pretty good about what’s down there.”
The Blue Jays started a sixgame homestand Tuesday night against Seattle. The team had planned give away Osuna Tshirts to the first 15,000 fans attending Thursday’s series finale against the Mariners, but have changed the giveaway to shirts featuring infielder Yangervis Solarte.
The Blue Jays recalled righthander Jake Petricka from triple-A Buffalo to take Osuna’s spot on the roster.
Major League Baseball and the Players Association agreed on a domestic violence policy in 2015.
It allows the league to discipline a player for an alleged domestic violence incident regardless of whether it results in a trial.