Former Texas Rangers relievers Sam Dyson was suspended for the entire 2021 season for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the punishment Friday.
Dyson’s former girlfriend Alexis Blackburn alleged he was physically, mentally and verbally abusive in several social media posts in 2019 and early in 2020 and later in a story in The Athletic in November.
“I deserve to wake up safe, without fear of coercion or violence,” Blackburn posted on Instagram. “This past year showed me I’m a lot stronger than I think and I’m resilient and I WILL eventually bounce back to a better, happier me that I love.”
Dyson accepted the suspension, according to MLB. He will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by MLB’s Joint Policy Board.
“My office has completed its investigation into the allegations that Sam Dyson violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy,” Manfred said in a released statement. “Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Dyson violated our Policy and that discipline is appropriate.”
Dyson spent more than two seasons with the Texas Rangers, including serving as the team’s primary closer. He was designated for assignment after he struggled through a disastrous first two months of the 2017 season.
He spent most of the past three of four seasons with the San Francisco Giants before finishing 2019 with the Minnesota Twins. He did not pitch in 2020 and is a free agent.
