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Agent dismisses 'meritless' STD lawsuit against Encarnacion

Anthony Gruppuso / USA TODAY Sports

Paul Kinzer, the agent for Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion, has fired back at the woman seeking more than $11.5 million in damages from the three-time All-Star over claims that he knowingly gave her sexually transmitted diseases, calling the lawsuit "completely inappropriate and meritless."

"(Encarnacion) will take every legal measure to defend himself against this frivolous claim and will bring appropriate claims in the appropriate forums against all of the individuals seeking to exploit his financial position," Kinzer said in a statement Tuesday, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

The woman, a 24-year-old family friend of Encarnacion's, is suing the 33-year-old for battery and misrepresentation of the facts for knowingly giving her multiple STDs during a hookup in Punta Cana in February, she alleges. About two months earlier, the woman - who had previously hooked up with one of Encarnacion's teammates - was told she was clean at Planned Parenthood.

According to the initial TMZ report, the woman claims she was in pain in the days following her dalliance with Encarnacion (the two allegedly had unprotected sex at least twice), prompting a visit to the doctor that revealed she had contracted two STDs. The woman then contacted Encarnacion, who insisted he was clean and suggested she may have contracted the diseases when the two when four-wheeling, or when she swam in the river.

Later, she claims, Encarnacion backed off his STD-free position, and then stopped contacting her altogether.

"This is an unacceptable attack on his exceptional character and stellar reputation within the baseball community as a man who carries himself with the highest level of integrity," added Kinzer.

"Mr. Encarnacion will not be commenting on this matter. He will not allow this to distract from his continued focus of contributing to his team’s success. We kindly ask that his privacy be requested."

Encarnacion, a free agent at season's end, leads the American League with 101 runs batted in this year and has smacked 35 homers with a .910 OPS through 122 contests. The Blue Jays open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre on Tuesday night.

"We're not going to comment on this until we can gather more information," Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said in a text message to John Lott of BlueJaysNation.com. "We will do everything we can to support Edwin throughout."

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