Report: Starlin Castro on Administrative Leave amid Alleged Domestic Violence Probe
July 16, 2021
Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro will reportedly be placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into an allegation of domestic violence.
Per The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli, Major League Baseball is expected to put Castro on seven-day administrative leave prior to Friday's game between the Nationals and San Diego Padres.
Ghiroli reported the alleged domestic violence occurred earlier this summer.
The report doesn't specify when the Nationals were made aware of the situation, nor when the alleged domestic violence situation occurred.
Washington did place Castro on the restricted list on June 16. Manager Dave Martinez told reporters at the time he had to attend to a family matter.
“We talked last night, and I just want him to go and handle those matters,” Martinez said. “I can’t get into specifics. One thing’s for sure—Starlin’s good. He just needs to take care of some stuff.”
Castro returned to the Nationals on June 18 when he made a pinch-hit appearance in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the New York Mets.
While Castro was still playing with the Chicago Cubs, Carlos Sadovi and Jeremy Gorner of the Chicago Tribune reported in April 2012 that a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her at his apartment in Sept. 2011, but prosecutors chose not to charge him because of insufficient evidence.
Under the joint domestic violence policy adopted by MLB and the MLB Players Association, administrative leave can be extended in seven-day increments if both parties agree.
Castro is in his second season with the Nationals. He appeared in 87 of the team's 89 games during the first half of this season.