The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Osuna addresses new Astros teammates in closed-door meeting
LOS ANGELES » Roberto Osuna met his new Houston Astros teammates Sunday and addressed the club for 10 minutes in a closed-door meeting as he comes off a 75game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.
The defending World Series champions acquired Osuna on Monday in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays while he was still serving his suspension. The All-Star closer was arrested and charged with assaulting his girlfriend May 8 in Toronto. No details have been made public and the next court date in the case is scheduled for Sept. 5.
Speaking with reporters in the dugout, Osuna offered few details about the morning meeting in the Astros’ clubhouse at Dodger Stadium and did not discuss the case pending against him. Osuna was added to the active roster before Sunday’s game against Los Angeles, with Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. going on the 10-day disabled list due to elbow discomfort.
“I was very happy to meet them and very happy to be a part of this team and be a part of this World Series championship team,” Osuna said through a translator. “I will do my best to win another World Series this year.”
Asked if he could shed some light on why he was suspended, Osuna replied: “Not right now.”
Astros manager AJ Hinch said he wouldn’t hesitate to use Osuna, and would like to get the reliever into a game as soon as possible. The 23-year-old right-hander is the youngest pitcher to reach 100 major league saves.
Hinch said he didn’t have any details about the domestic violence allegation, but takes the situation seriously.
“I think our club is very aware socially,” Hinch said. “I think we are very aware of domestic violence and any negativity that brings. I will tell you universally this club has a hard time with domestic violence. This is bad. I want us to know that this is bad. Domestic violence is bad, allegations are bad and we take them very seriously. But we are not involved in the court case. We are not aware of any of the details and we will have to react and respond and deal with it accordingly as it comes up.”
MLB handed Osuna the second-longest suspension since its domestic violence policy was enacted three years ago. The pitcher did not appeal.
When the Astros acquired Osuna from the Blue Jays before last Tuesday’s trade deadline, the move raised eyebrows in the clubhouse and around baseball after Houston had previously stated its no-tolerance policy regarding domestic violence.
The team released minor leaguer Danry Vasquez last spring after surveillance video surfaced showing him assaulting a woman.
McCullers and fellow starting pitcher Justin Verlander were outspoken about their disgust on Twitter at that time.
Osuna is aware of the stir his acquisition has caused in Houston as he joins a team that supplied so much civic pride in the wake of last year’s devastating floods triggered by Hurricane Harvey.
“I understand the situation (and) know it’s a sensitive subject,” Osuna said. “I understand the reaction they’re going to have.”
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow sat with Osuna as he addressed the media Sunday morning and said the decision to add him to the team was essentially his. Luhnow said his hope is that Osuna’s presence with the Astros can ultimately turn into a “positive thing.”
“This was a tough decision,” Luhnow said. “Everybody had different points of view, but ultimately, I’m the one that made the decision to make the trade. My focus was on giving Roberto a second chance. I understand that it was going to raise conversation and awareness of this topic, and I’m OK with that.”
Luhnow’s plan is to have Osuna speak to Astros minor league players about the pitfalls of being a young athlete, while also becoming active in the Houston community.
“While there’s been a lot of negativity around it, I do ultimately believe that over the long haul we can turn this into a very positive event for our team, for Roberto personally, for everybody else that was affected, and for the community of Houston and our fan base,” Luhnow said. “That’s our goal. I think Roberto shares that goal, and we’re going to have to earn that. We’re not going to be able to say something today and have everybody believe that. But that’s my honest aspiration for where this ends up.”
Osuna sounded agreeable to Luhnow’s vision.