Twins third baseman Miguel Sano will not be suspended by the league in relation to a recent allegation of assault, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (links to Twitter). A league statement indicates that “insufficient evidence” was uncovered during an investigation.
Late last year, as detailed in full in the above link, the claims of assault led to the league to begin an investigation under the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Per the league, the efforts including a series of interviews — including of both Sano and the alleged victim — as well as a review of certain “available documents.”
Upon review of the evidence, the commissioner determined that the evidence was lacking to apply any discipline, citing “conflicting and inconsistent witness accounts and the absence of contemporaneous substantiation.” While details are understandably not available, it is perhaps also fair to note that there was some potential question — based upon the allegations as stated — as to whether the sexual assault prong of the policy would be deemed to apply to this situation.
Here’s the full definition from the policy itself:
“Sexual assault refers to a range of behaviors, including a completed nonconsensual sex act, an attempted nonconsensual sex act, and/or nonconsensual sexual contact. Lack of consent is inferred when a person uses force, harassment, threat of force, threat of adverse personnel or disciplinary action, or other coercion, or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, unconscious or legally incapable of consent.”
Barring any new evidence that might come to the league’s attention, it would appear that Sano will be able to open the 2018 season with the Minnesota organization and play without limitation.
