Steven Wright suspended 15 games by MLB for domestic assault incident

TAMPA -- Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright was suspended for 15 games Friday by Major League Baseball for violating MLB's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, stemming from his arrest in December for an incident at his Nashville-area home involving his wife.

The case was later retired by a judge in Tennessee and will likely be dropped entirely if Wright stays out of trouble for a 12-month period. But under MLB's program, the commissioner has the right to take disciplinary action in cases where there is no punishment coming from the judicial system.

"My office has completed its investigation into the events leading up to Steven Wright's arrest on the evening of December 8, 2017,'' commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Mr. Wright cooperated with the investigation. While it is clear that Mr. Wright regrets what transpired that evening, takes full responsibility for his actions and has committed himself to the treatment and counseling components of the Policy, I have concluded that Mr. Wright's conduct on December 8th violated the Policy and warrants discipline.

"In addition to serving the 15-game suspension, Mr. Wright has agreed to speak to other players about what he has learned through this process, and to donate time and money to local organizations aimed at the prevention of, and the treatment of, victims of domestic violence.''

In a separate statement, the Red Sox added:

"We fully support MLB's Domestic Violence Policy, the discipline set forth by the commissioner's office and Steven's acceptance of the ruling. While we are disappointed that this incident occurred, we are encouraged that Steven is taking meaningful steps to learn from this unfortunate incident.''

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Wright was not available for comment Friday, but on Thursday, when asked about the status of the case, he was uncertain what to expect.

"Obviously, it's a situation that sucks not only for me but for my family and for the team,'' said Wright. "I try not to think about it. When MLB comes out with a discipline, or if there's going to be discipline or not, we'll kind of go from there. Right now, my focus is more on getting healthy and making sure that when I do get an opportunity to go out there and pitch, that all my focus is on that. But right now, I honestly haven't even thought about it.

"I wasn't given anything (in terms of a timetable). They just kind of said they were doing their investigation and once they're done, they'll let myself and the team know.''

In the short-term, from a baseball perspective, Wright's suspension streamlines the Red Sox rotation planning. It was uncertain whether Wright was going to be physically ready to begin the season after recovering from knee surgery, but that point is now moot.

Wright's 15-games won't be started until the Red Sox place him on their active roster, so the discipline guarantees he won't be available to them until mid-April at the very earliest.

During the suspension, Wright will be allowed to take part in the team's extended spring training program but, per MLB rules, can't take part in traditional minor league games.

With the announcement Friday that Brian Johnson will pitch one of the first five games, the Red Sox still have one opening in their rotation for the first road trip.

That fifth spot will now likely go to either Eduardo Rodriguez or Hector Velazquez. Drew Pomeranz, who threw three innings in a minor league game Friday as he recovers from a strained flexor tendon, suffered earlier this month, will likely not have sufficient time to build up arm strength for the first five games, but will probably be ready to re-join the rotation when the Red Sox return to Boston for their first homestand.

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