New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German's leave is extended through end of the World Series
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Domingo German is finished for this season, the consequence of his violation of baseball’s joint domestic violence policy.
A curt statement released by Major League Baseball on Wednesday said that the league and the Players Association “have extended the administrative leave for Yankees pitcher Domingo German through the conclusion of the 2019 World Series.’’
There was no other information provided on MLB’s investigation of German, 27, which began last week.
That concludes what had been a breakthrough season for the right-hander, who went 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 27 games (24 starts) and loomed as an important weapon – either as a starter or a reliever – in the Yankees’ October run.
Before the official news of German’s extended administrative leave, the Yankees were already involved in plans for a postseason without the right-hander’s services.
And Wednesday’s Yankees starter, Jonathan Loaisiga, is clearly a potential replacement to fill German’s role.
“He's very much in that mix, absolutely,’’ manager Aaron Boone said of Loaisiga, about an hour before the announcement about German.
Boone mentioned Loaisiga’s “dynamic’’ arsenal, adding that “the fastball-breaking ball combination with him - when he's commanding it to a certain degree – (is) capable of getting anyone out.’’
The Yankees will formulate a pitching strategy for postseason in the coming days. They host a best-of-five AL Division Series beginning a week from Friday.