Steven Wright was arrested on Friday on charges of domestic assault, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports (Twitter link). Wright was released on Saturday. Wright and his agent didn’t comment on the situation, though NBC Sports Boston’s Evan Drellich received a statement from the Wright family via their attorney:
“On Friday night, Steven was arrested at our home following a verbal argument, and the police charged him with domestic assault. Although he said things he deeply regrets, he did not raise his hand at anyone during the incident, and the situation was purely emotional. We are working together as a family to make our relationships stronger, and we ask that you respect our privacy as we do so.”
The Red Sox have also released a statement in regards to Wright’s arrest…
“We are aware of the incident involving Steven. This is certainly a matter that the Red Sox take very seriously. It is my understanding that both local police and MLB are looking into this and for that reason, the club won’t have any further comment at this time.”
Wright emerged as a solid rotation piece for the Red Sox in 2016, when he posted a 3.33 ERA, 7.3 K/9, and 2.23 K/BB over 156 2/3 innings and was selected to the AL All-Star team. A shoulder injury cut Wright’s year short, however, and the knuckleballer was then limited to just five starts in 2017 due to season-ending left knee surgery in May. Wright had been expected to return as Boston’s fifth starter next season, particularly in the wake of the news that Eduardo Rodriguez will miss time at the start of the year due to his own knee surgery.
It isn’t yet known what, if any, further legal obstacles Wright may face, though MLB’s domestic violence policy gives Commissioner Rob Manfred broad authority to issue suspensions even if no further legal action is taken. Aroldis Chapman, Jose Reyes, Jeurys Familia and Derek Norris are some of the more notable names who have been suspended or placed on the restricted list for domestic violence-related issues since MLB and the players’ union instituted the policy in August 2015.
Koodle
She should have just kicked him in the knee
jkinser20
Yelling qualifies as domestic assault?
johnsilver
Evidently this type of conduct (I take it screaming) at a spouse, or some other family member will now lead to suspensions in MLB…
….Meanwhile in Not..For..Long..sport.. Certain parasites are allowed to disrespect this great country and suffer no type of suspensions and a certain few even think this is heroic?
no wonder the country seems headed down the crapper.
stl_cards16 2
Yes a domestic situation being investigated is equivalent to something that absolutely no person has ever been harmed in.
…….and I’m sure you can’t see why no rational person takes these ridiculous opinions seriously.
walterfranciswhite
@johnsilver is the country great or going down the crapper? You’re beyond an idiot
GCarbs
No one’s disrespecting the country but the people who criticize people’s use of their first amendment rights.
Rob L. 2
You are an absolute tool.
jdgoat
Wait to show your stripes Johnsilver. Peaceful protests= domestic abuse. That might be the worst take I have ever seen
srechter
Had to comment, because I was going to quite actually make the same exact statement, almost to the word.
realgone2
Well you’re obviously an idiot.
Comment Section Mod
Loser of the internet today goes to you johnsilver
saintchristafa
You tried ♂️
ChiSoxCity
Let me get this straight… You’re more outraged over a song and a gd flag than an unarmed man being shot to death by the police while laying on the ground literally begging for his life?? People like you disgust me. Fascist like you always feel threatened by people who value freedom and liberty, and who aren’t afraid to show it.
JoeyPankake
Fascist doesn’t mean what you (and everyone else who throws the term around because it’s trendy) think it means.
Dannydeman
Seriously this post should have nothing to do with the anthem protest but since you guys are on here talking about it like it’s a noble act then I will comment. Kapernick wears socks depicting police officers as pigs, wears a Fidel Castro shirt and kneels for your countries national anthem and you guys call that a good cause? It’s not domestic violence though
jdgoat
John silver is the only person who said the nfl players kneeling was heroic, and he is obviously a troll or just plain lost.
srechter
“There’s no need for a fire here, so let me just pour some gasoline to put it out.”
defan63
Seriously look up the meaning of the word FASCIST clearly you have no clue what it means
CoryM
Definition:
A political philosophy or regime that exalts nation, and often race, above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.
johnsilver
Exact opposite of what I said, which is about what figured out of a goat.
Del Boca Vista
I think you meant to type in foxnews.com
Empire Exoticz
Are talking about people taking a Knee? You are one of those riding the disrespecting the flag horse? Because every one knows they are protesting injustices. You even have BLM protesting the killing of a white dude. So please save you hurt feelings about the flag, when you have a potential senator almost calling to bring slavery back.
Eric D.
Dumbest comment of the century
mcdusty31
You’d be surprised…I’m obviously not saying that there aren’t legitimate domestic disputes that need to result in arrests but a lot of times things are blown out of proportion and police “err on the side of caution” which ends up causing a lot more damage than just separating the parties involved for the night
Joe Kerr
I could be mistaken but some police departments have a rule that if they get called out to someone’s residence for a domestic dispute, they arrest at least 1 who was involved to separate them and let cooler heads prevail. If it is indeed true that no contact was made, he won’t have a difficult time with the help of a lawyer getting it dropped.
the sterling don
Yes they must decide on an “aggressor.” My guess is his wife (or whomever called the police) said he got physical.
Modified_6
You are mistaken… basically the only time someone is definitely going to be arrested is when there are clear marks on one or the other… the whole “someone has to be arrested” is false. It’s different in that it’s a misdemeanor out of presence but because of the offense an arrest can still be made in the moment. You basically have to take each sides story, look at marks and make a best guess decision as to who the aggressor was.
If their are no marks, and it’s a verbal argument there is essentially a noted screen where it’ll say something like person 1 and person had a verbal argument only etc etc, no signs of offense etc.
Just because Wright’s lawyer said it was only a verbal argument doesn’t mean it was only a verbal argument.
greatdaysports
That is right. No marks, violations of trespassing or threats witnessed, no arrest.
Looks like another gutless ballplayer can hold his high or temper.
greatdaysports
Can’t hold
CoryM
It actually depends on the state. I work on a university campus and if two roommates get in a fight, depending on the state, one is required to be arrested by law.
justinept
Most people conflate assault and battery as being the same thing. Legally, they aren’t. Assault is making threats of violence. Battery is the physical act of violence.
It’s pretty clear from the arrest that his wife is alleging he made physical threats. Had he struck her, it would’ve been assault and battery…
Not sure where the CBA lands on this. Does it only deal with the legal concept of battery? Or does assault fall under the policy, too?
Ry.the.Stunner
I’m guessing the latter. if I remember correctly, Chapman never laid a hand on his partner, but he did discharge a gun in his garage and was still suspended.
majorflaw
You really shouldn’t be handing out legal opinions until you finish at least your first year of law school.
Each jurisdiction has its own legal definitions of what an “assault” is and what constitutes a “battery.” There is no hard and fast rule which works in all states/cities/counties, etc. Generally though, a “battery” is any non-consensual touching, violence not being a necessary element.
There is also no hard and fast rule about when to make an arrest in a domestic violence situation. Some places, as noted elsewhere, do insist that an arrest be made. Other places leave more discretion in the hands of responding LEOs. Not enough info yet to say with any certainty what actually happened vis: Mr. Wright.
kyredsox17
If the police are called out there for something like that and everything isn’t completely calm when they arrive or are trying to leave then someone is probably coming with them.
gomerhodge71
Probably, in today’s society. Next thing you know, Wright will also be charged with harassment.
RiverCatsFilms
Wow
jonscriff
He looks like the nicest guy ever wow.
kherz23
How does someone “look” nice
mlb1225
Truthfully, I thought the same thing. He didn’t have the attitude like that. Way different attitude than guys who have done domestic violence, like Reyes, and Chapman.
Joe Kerr
what? Reyes looks like one of the nicest guys ever too. He is always smiling ear to ear, having fun every time I see him. Never would’ve thought he would have a violent side but that’s obviously not the case.
hzt502
Um honestly. I don’t know what you what you meant with this comment, but saying a white american guy “looks nice” and “didn’t have an attitude like that” but a couple of black latino guys DO sounds. Very racist and you should reflect on why you felt that way.
redsox 1976
And the good news keep coming for Us!!!2018 will be s disaster
rtr5953
Guess he didnt make the wright life choice that night
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
#gotheeeeeeeeeeeem
bastros88
doesn’t seem like anybody was physically harmed, which is good. Maybe some anger management classes are in order. he has a pretty good knuckle ball by the way lol
tsolid 2
That’s the Family side of the Statement “After The Fact”
kherz23
Did he give anyone a knuckle sandwich?
bastros88
ohhhh you……
Chris Sale Amateur Tailor
mike-5
I think it’s stupid how a league can suspend a player for domestic violence even if there are no charges filed nor the player found not guilty. If no charges are filed, or he is found not guilty, he’s innocent in the eyes of the law, but guilty in the eyes of sports leagues.
whosyourmomma
Ask Ezekiel Elliott and Jerry Jones how they feel about suspensions with NO conviction or even arrest? And I don’t think Red Sox release him if it was truly just an argument!
justinept
Different league. Different union. Different CBA…
whosyourmomma
His last words, “…but guilty in the eyes of sports leagues.” I realize NFL & MLB are different. My biggest complaint with MLB is the joke of a “PED/drug policy” not their domestic violence policy.
Polish Hammer
Because victims of domestic violence would never retract their statements and/or withdraw charges despite legitimately getting beaten.
louwhitakerisahofer
He throws a knuckleball… how hard could he actually punch? Nonetheless, enjoy your 20 game suspension. The BoSox will be better without him.
Ironman_4life
All star last year. Was best pitcher in al east for 1st half.
outinleftfield
That was 2016. He was out most of last season.
jimmertee
Anyone know if he is healthy and can still pitch?
outinleftfield
If he was healthy, the Red Sox would not have released him.
JoeyPankake
I think it meant released from jail, not by the Red Sox, but I could be wrong.
greatdaysports
Let’s keep our sport from becoming the NFL or NBA. Keep the punishment fair and quick and tough.
JoeyPankake
Just glad nobody got a knuckle sandwich.
therealbdavis
Just saying, this off-season sucks so bad that we’d rather talk politics then baseball. The only big news is Stanton going to NY and Ohtani going to LAA. Hell at this point Redbull should try to sponsor the Winter meetings just so they can wake everyone up. Let’s go guys teams need improving and players need to be moving.
jd396
Male gets drunk
Male hits female
Female calls 911
Police arrive and arrest male
Female screams “I love him don’t take him away from me” and denies anything happened
Same story, different names.
bosox90
Oh, did the story say Wright was intoxicated? Must’ve missed that. How about we wait for the entire story.
mattblaze13
Probably everyone thinking irrationally and overreacting.
rmullig2
I think he’ll be joining Charlie Sheen’s old team from Major League.
soxfan10 2
Even throws knuckles at home
dkhits20
Steven Wright’s velocity was easily 25mph less than Aroldis Chapman’s though.
usafcop
Must have punched her with his knuckles….