Chicago police are investigating a sexual assault allegation against Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang over an incident that allegedly took place when his team was in town last month, a police spokesman confirmed Tuesday.
The Pirates said Tuesday that they were aware of the investigation.
"We have been made aware of the allegation that has been made against Jung Ho Kang," Pirates President Frank Coonelly said in a statement in response to questions from the Tribune about the sexual assault investigation. "We take allegations of this type extremely seriously. Pursuant to the Joint MLB/MLBPA Policy on such matters, this matter is exclusively before the Commissioner's Office at this time. We have and will continue to cooperate fully with the Commissioner's Office. As a result of the ongoing police investigation, we cannot comment further at this time. We have also advised our staff and our players that they should not comment on the matter either. We all need to be respectful to the police investigation of a very serious allegation."
Kang, 29, has not been charged with a crime. His status with the team was unchanged.
According to police, the Chicago woman met Kang through Bumble, a location-based dating app that allows only women to initiate conversations. Kang invited the woman to his Magnificent Mile hotel room on June 17, hours after the Pirates had lost a day game to the Cubs.
The woman told investigators she arrived at Kang's room at the Westin Hotel around 10 p.m. and he served her an alcoholic drink, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. She said she blacked out about 15 to 20 minutes later, then drifted in and out of consciousness as he sexually assaulted her.
She told police she did not fully awaken until she was in a taxi and on her way home, according to Guglielmi.
The 23-year-old woman, who is not being identified because she is an alleged victim of a sex crime, went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to have a rape kit done on June 19, Guglielmi said. She filed a formal complaint with police 10 days later, sources said.
The league released a statement saying it recently learned of the allegation.
"Our understanding is that police in Chicago are investigating this very serious matter," the statement said. "Major League Baseball will monitor the progress of this investigation closely and will respond fully as additional facts emerge."
Kang, who is from South Korea, signed a 4-year, $11 million deal with the Pirates in 2015. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last season and missed the final month of the season with a broken leg after the Cubs' Chris Coghlan slid hard into second base trying to break up a double play.
He has been in a batting slump since mid-June, hitting .121 over his last 11 games. He has sat out three of the Pirates' last six games.
The Cubs are scheduled to play in Pittsburgh this weekend.
