Yanks pitcher sorry after domestic-violence ban
Yankees right-hander Domingo German publicly apologized Wednesday for his actions that resulted in an 81-game suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic-violence policy.
‘‘I want to take this opportunity . . . to sincerely apologize to the Steinbrenner family, my teammates, the front office and those around me who love me,’’ he said through an interpreter on a video conference call. ‘‘I have made mistakes I am not proud of, and for that I want to apologize.
‘‘I want to thank [manager] Aaron Boone and [general manager] Brian Cashman for being so patient with me. They have always sincerely tried to help me when I was going through my worst moment.’’
German, 28, hasn’t played since September 2019. He was 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 2019 when he was put on administrative leave while MLB investigated an alleged domestic-violence case involving his girlfriend, with whom he has at least one child.
German missed the final nine games of the 2019 regular season and all nine of the Yankees’ postseason games. He received his suspension Jan. 2, 2020, a ban that had 63 games left and cost him the entire 2020 season and playoffs.
German said he has gone to mandatory counseling but wouldn’t discuss the specifics of the event that led to his suspension.
‘‘I think [counseling] was something that benefitted me,’’ he said.
Twins’ top prospect has torn ACL
Twins shortstop Royce Lewis, who is considered the top prospect in the organization, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will sideline him for the 2021 season.
President of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Lewis, 21, was diagnosed with the injury during a physical exam upon reporting to spring training. Lewis, the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, will have reconstructive surgery Friday in Minnesota before returning to the Twins’ facility in Florida to begin nine to 12 months of rehab.
Lewis finished 2019 at Class AA. Because the pandemic wiped out minor-league play in 2020, he will go more than two years without playing in a game.
Prospect says M’s punishing him
Mariners outfield prospect Jarred
Kelenic and his agent told USA Today they think Kelenic has been kept off the team’s major-league roster as punishment for his refusal to accept a long-term contract offer.
Kelenic’s status was at the center of comments made by former Mariners CEO Kevin Mather, who resigned Monday after online video surfaced of him insinuating the team was delaying the big-league arrivals of Kelenic and right-hander Logan Gilbert as a way to prolong control over them.
Ohtani hits 97 mph in batting practice
Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani said his fastball topped out at 97 mph while throwing live batting practice.
It was an encouraging development for Ohtani, 26, who was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 2018 before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and not pitching again until appearing in two games last season. Afterward, he said the elbow feels ‘‘much better compared to last year.’’