Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright receives 15-game suspension

MLB has announced a 15-game suspension for Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.

Major League Baseball announced on Friday that Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright will be suspended for 15 games without pay for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

Wright was arrested on December 8, 2017, on domestic abuse charges stemming from an incident with his wife. A statement given by the family stated that it was a verbal argument that prompted a call to police but Wright did not raise his hand to anyone.

The statement provided by Commissioner Rob Manfred regarding the suspension confirmed that Wright was cooperative with MLB’s investigation. He has shown clear regret and has taken responsibility for his actions.

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Wright has agreed to speak with other players about what he’s learned through this process. He plans to donate his time and money to organizations aimed at treating and preventing domestic violence. He has also committed himself to treatment and counseling, as per MLB’s policy.

The Red Sox made a statement of their own, supporting the decision and MLB’s Domestic Violence Policy. While they expressed disappointment that the incident occurred, the team is encouraged that Wright has taken steps to learn from his mistakes.

Wright apologized to the Red Sox organization, his teammates, the fans and his family in a statement of his own. He has accepted MLB’s ruling and will not appeal the suspension.

The knuckleball pitcher had been vying for a spot in the rotation, so long as he was deemed healthy enough for Opening Day as he works his way back from knee surgery. Lingering questions regarding the status of Wright, Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz have left the backend of the Red Sox rotation unsettled. The suspension takes Wright out of the running. His competition should be ready to return before Wright is eligible to be activated, potentially relegating him to a bullpen role.

Wright will be on the restricted list during his suspension, allowing the Red Sox to still carry 25 active players. A roster change will be necessary in order to activate Wright, assuming he is added to the big league club. The Red Sox will need to figure out what his role will be when he is eligible to return.

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Domestic violence is a serious issue that MLB won’t stand for. Violation of this policy warrants punishment. It wasn’t a matter of if Wright would be suspended, but how many games he would miss.