Rockies' Reyes Accepts Suspension, Could Return In June
DENVER (AP) - Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was suspended through May 31 on Friday, the second player penalized under Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.
MLB announced Reyes accepted the punishment and won't appeal. The penalty stemmed from an alleged altercation with his wife at a Hawaii resort last October.
Reyes has been away from the Rockies since late February and will miss the first two months of the season.
The four-time All-Star will lose $6,251,366 of his $22 million salary, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that aspect of the penalty wasn't made public.
Earlier this week, New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman joined the team after serving a 29-game penalty.
Reyes had been scheduled to go to trial April 4 after pleading not guilty to abusing a family or household member. Hawaii prosecutors dropped charges before the trial date and said his wife was not cooperating.
"I want to apologize for everything that has happened," Reyes said Friday in a statement released by the players' union. "I am sorry to the Rockies organization, my teammates, all the fans and most of all my family."
The 32-year-old Reyes is a career .290 hitter with 479 stolen bases in 13 seasons. He won the 2011 NL batting title while with the New York Mets -- the Mets were set to play at Colorado on Friday night.
Rookie Trevor Story has filled in during Reyes' absence and been one of baseball's big surprises this season. Story hit two home runs off Arizona ace Zack Greinke on opening day in his major league debut. Story ranks among the big league leaders with 11 homers and 27 RBIs and is batting .266.
Reyes' penalty without pay was retroactive to Feb. 23, when he was put on leave. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Reyes has agreed to contribute $100,000 to one or more charitable groups that focus on preventing and treating survivors of domestic violence.
"I am encouraged by Mr. Reyes' commitment to the treatment provisions of the policy in order to ensure that such an incident does not occur in the future," Manfred said in a statement.
By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer
(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
