Banned ex-GM offers apology

ATLANTA— Banned from baseball for life, former Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella apologized Tuesday for rules violations that led to major sanctions against the team and “cost me my dream job and my future in the game that I love.”

In his first public comments since losing his job in the midst of Major League Baseball’s investigation, Coppolella sent out a five-paragraph statement to ESPN and other media outlets.

“I have been hesitant to speak publicly as my family and I have been devastated and embarrassed by the repercussions of my actions,” he said. “I realize now that I need to address what happened and speak to those affected.”

Coppolella was forced to resign the day after the regular season ended. MLB found the Braves circumvented international signing rules from 2015-17, which led to the team forfeiting the rights to 13 prospects and facing major restrictions on signing players outside the United States until 2021.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Braves’ organization fully co-operated in the investigation, but he also indicated the Coppolella received the harshest penalty the game can dole out because he wouldn’t come clean.

He addressed those who felt like he tried to block the investigation.

“To those in the baseball industry, including employees of the Braves and other organizations who feel I was in any way disrespectful or dishonest, I apologize,” the 38-year-old Coppolella said. “To the commissioner’s office, who spent many extra hours dealing with such an unfortunate situation, please accept my apology. To the Braves fans and to those in the front office who supported me throughout my time as a general manager, please know that I understand and accept your anger and frustration.”

The 38-year-old Coppolella joined a notorious list of those permanently banned from baseball, a group that includes career hits leader Pete Rose, who was banished for his ties to gamblers.In his zeal to rebuild the franchise, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2013, Coppolella and his associates were found to have covertly funneled extra money to international prospects, as well as violated rules in the domestic draft. Former Braves special assistant Gordon Blakeley, who was the team’s international scouting chief, was suspended from baseball for one year.

Atlanta has hired former Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos to fully run its baseball operations.