Yankees’ pitcher Jimmy Cordero suspended for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy

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MLB announced Wednesday the suspension of New York Yankees relief pitcher Jimmy Cordero for the remainder of the 2023 season for violating the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The 31-year-old Cordero was placed on MLB’s restricted list effective immediately; he will participate in a league-mandated evaluation and treatment policy, and will miss the remaining 76 games of the regular season and the postseason. The announcement didn’t stipulate which section of the policy Cordero violated, nor is it clear what he is accused of or if he faces pending criminal charges (the league’s policy doesn’t require criminal charges to enact a suspension).

The Yankees released a statement in support of the suspension: “The Yankees are fully supportive of Major League Baseball’s investigative process and the disciplinary action applied to Jimmy Cordero. There is no justification for domestic violence, and we stand with the objectives, standards and enforcement of MLB’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.” Cordero hasn’t addressed the suspension publicly.

Cordero joined the franchise in 2021 on a minor-league contract, but hadn’t pitched in MLB since 2020 with the Chicago White Sox (he missed the entire 2021 season after Tommy John surgery while with Chicago). He spent 2022 with the Yankees’ Triple-A team at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. This year, Cordero’s appeared in 31 games for the Yankees, most recently this past Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. He produced a 3.86 ERA, with 34 strikeouts and 10 walks in 32 2/3 innings this season, his first at the MLB level with the Yankees.

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