Troubling allegations of domestic abuse have emerged surrounding free agent reliever Sam Dyson. In a piece from Katie Strang and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (subscription required), Dyson’s ex-girlfriend Alexis Blackburn reveals the details of her relationship with Dyson, whom Major League Baseball began investigating last November.
Blackburn’s path to seeking and finding help is particularly striking as she explains her experiences with law enforcement, MLB’s investigation, and her own uncertainties about how to best find resolution. Dyson’s status as an athlete made that process all the more difficult as the emotional toll of their tumultuous relationship was compounded by the weight of Dyson’s public profile.
Blackburn initially went public via two Instagram posts in November. At that point, MLB started looking into the case, though Dyson did not sit down with league investigators until last month. After an incident that resulted in police intervention in November, Blackburn and Dyson were both interviewed by police in Jupiter, Fla. Per Strang and Rosenthal, Dyson was quoted as saying that he and Blackburn were involved in a “verbally violent and toxic relationship.” Despite their statements and some physical evidence of abuse included in Blackburn’s account, the police investigators found no probable cause at that time. MLB has not yet reached a resolution in its investigation.
Dyson last appeared in the majors in 2019 when he split the season between the Giants and Twins. Over an eight-year career, Dyson played for the Blue Jays, Marlins, Rangers, Giants and Twins, totaling a 3.40 ERA/3.75 FIP in 376 appearances across 386 2/3 innings with 7.2 K/9 to 3.0 BB/9. Dyson is currently without a team, and it is not clear if he hopes to find a job in the league this winter. It’s difficult to imagine a team taking a chance on Dyson at this stage.
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