Mets’ closer charged with domestic violence
Familia caused ‘bodily injury to another’ in complaint filed by authorities in Fort Lee, New Jersey on Monday
A New York Mets pitcher featured in a new anti-domestic violence ad campaign is now facing a domestic violence charge in New Jersey.
A complaint filed by authorities in Fort Lee municipal court alleges that Jeurys Familia caused “bodily injury to another” and that they observed a scratch to the victim’s chest and a bruise to the victim’s right cheek.
It says the 27-year-old Familia — who is identified in the complaint as Jeurys F. Mojica — was arrested early Monday and charged with simple assault. Major League Baseball confirmed Familia’s extended last name is Mojica.
The All-Star pitcher, the married father of a year-old boy, serves as the Mets closer.
Familia’s agent declined comment on the matter. The Mets issued a statement that said “the matter was brought to our attention and we are monitoring the situation.”
The matter was first reported by The Record newspaper.
Granderson wins Clemente Award
New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson received baseball’s biggest honor for sportsmanship and community — The Roberto Clemente Award.
The 35-year-old Granderson helps run baseball clinics and character development programs in his hometown Chicago through the Grand Kids Foundation, which he created in 2007. He made a $5 million donation to UIC for the construction of indoor/outdoor baseball facility that opened in 2014.
The three-time All-Star also helps raise money for several
charities in New York and has been active with the Mets’ military appreciation work.
“He really is a deserving recipient of this great award,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said.
Clemente, a longtime Hall of Famer for the Pirates, died on New Year’s Eve in 1972 while on a charter plane that crashed after takeoff. The plan was carrying relief aid to Nicaragua following an earthquake. “What Roberto Clemente stood for, his family is living proof of what it was to not only be a professional athlete, but professional
human being,” Granderson said. “The importance of knowing that his community is what made him who he was, and the reason why he was able to be where he was, and he never forgot that, whether his community was in Pittsburgh, where he played, or his hometown where he was able to go back to in the
offseason, or during the season to help out at any time no matter what was going on.”
Granderson is the fourth player from the Mets to win the award, joining Gary Carter (1989), Al Leiter (2000) and Carlos Delgado (2006). Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was recognized last year.