CLEVELAND — Major League Baseball is investigating allegations of domestic violence that have been made against former Cleveland Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger, according to The Athletic.
Clevinger, who last pitched for Cleveland in 2020, is accused of abusing the 24-year-old mother of his child, as well as their 10-month-old daughter. According to the report, the woman has detailed incidents of physical, verbal and emotional abuse to investigators. One of the allegations made against Clevinger includes an incident from last June in which the woman says that he choked her, and another that occurred about two weeks later when she said Clevinger slapped her and threw used chewing tobacco on their child.
Clevinger was a member of the San Diego Padres at the time of the incidents. A source familiar with MLB’s investigation process confirmed to The Athletic there is an open investigation on the 32-year-old Clevinger.
The then-Indians acquired Clevinger from the Los Angeles Angels in 2014 in exchange for relief pitcher Vinnie Pestano. After making his big league debut in 2016, the hard-throwing right-hander became a mainstay of Cleveland's rotation in 2017 and amassed a 42-22 record and 3.20 ERA over the course of five seasons with the Indians.
Ahead of the trade deadline during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, the Indians traded Clevinger to the Padres for a package that included first baseman/outfielder Josh Naylor, pitcher Cal Quantrill, catcher Austin Hedges and infield prospect Gabriel Arias. In two seasons with San Diego -- he missed the entire 2021 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery -- he totaled a 9-8 record and 4.12 ERA, including a 7-7 record and 4.33 ERA in 23 appearances in 2022.
In December, Clevinger returned to the American League Central Division, signing a one-year, $8 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. According to The Athletic, White Sox were unaware of the accusations at the time of the signing.
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