The New York Yankees placed Domingo German on the restricted list as the pitcher is undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse.
German voluntarily underwent inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse, the team confirmed on Wednesday.
“It is critical that Domingo focuses fully on addressing his health and well-being. We will respect his privacy as he begins this process,” the Yankees said in a statement.
On Monday, German, who turns 31 on Friday, was initially scratched due to discomfort in his armpit, but then went into relief in the game against the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching five scoreless innings with two hits in a 5-1 loss.
The 30-year-old is said to have previously domestically abused his now-wife while drunk.
The New York Yankees placed Domingo German on the restricted list as the pitcher is undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse
In September 2019, the right-hander allegedly hit his then-girlfriend, now wife Mara Vega
In September 2019, the right-hander and his then-girlfriend, now-wife Mara Vega, attended a charity gala held by then-Yankee CC Sabathia, in the presence of several other teammates and their wives and families.
The pitcher allegedly punched Vega during the event, but it was what happened later that led to an MLB investigation, according to The athletic.
A drunken German reportedly became so violent towards Vega when they returned home that she had to take refuge by locking herself in a room.
From hiding, she was reportedly able to contact the wife of another Yankees player, prompting the pair to drive to German’s home.
When they arrived on the property late at night, the teammate’s wife stayed with Vega while her husband tried to calm down his fellow Yankee.
German’s girlfriend later told another Yankees staff member about the incident, who reported it to MLB, prompting an investigation.
While Vega never reported the incident to police, the MLB investigation resulted in an 81-game suspension for German for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
The suspension, one of the longest issued under the policy that took effect in 2015, was reportedly a settlement between the league, MLBPA and German, who did not appeal the sentence.
In 2020, halfway through his suspension, German bizarrely hinted that he was retiring from baseball, before retracting his comments the next day.
A drunken German reportedly turned violent towards Vega as they returned home from a charity event (Vega pictured at Yankee Stadium)
In 2020, German posted a cryptic story that read, “I left baseball. Thanks everyone.’
He later apologized for the “disturbing” post, claiming he was not running away
In an Instagram post showing him in pinstripes, German wrote in Spanish, “Some people are making history on both sides, I think I did my part at Yankee Stadium, if I decide not to come back, I will I am very proud of my 11-year professional career. God bless everyone who has supported me.”
In a separate post, he added, “I’ve left baseball. Thanks everyone.’
He later apologized for the “disturbing” post, claiming that being away from his teammates and letting them down had “taken its toll”.
Earlier this season, German achieved baseball immortality in May by pitching the 24th perfect game in MLB, joining Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998), and David Cone (1999) as Yankees to achieve this feat.
He struckout nine of 27 batters and threw 72 of 99 pitches for at bats, writing himself in the history books.
He was doused with water as his teammates celebrated his performance after the Yankees’ 11-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics.