Major League Baseball is investigating relief pitcher Sam Dyson for domestic violence, sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, after social media posts by Dyson's ex-girlfriend, Alexis Blackburn, implied that he'd committed animal abuse and alluded to abusive behavior toward her.
Dyson and Blackburn shared a cat named Snuckles, who has his own Instagram account. A post written from the cat's perspective and published Tuesday says that someone damaged a box while the cat was inside. The post also suggests that Snuckles and Blackburn subsequently left to stay with a member of Blackburn's family.
A source confirmed to Rosenthal that the other person referenced in the post is Dyson. The league will reportedly interview Blackburn soon.
Part of the caption reads:
No one deserves to have their trust broken, but to have your trust broken and not understand why is the hardest thing to grasp at this point. Mom has put up with a lot and some people won't believe her and that's okay. This isn't about believing a person or situation. This is about safety at this point. Mom took me to grandmas for good because unlike my previous 'safe space,' GRANDMAS is a safe space.
The post also states that when Snuckles was hurt, it was "the moment mom said goodbye."
Days earlier, Blackburn posted on her personal Instagram account thanking those who have helped and supported her over the last year.
Blackburn wrote:
I am broken though. I've allowed my physical health, my emotional health, and my mental health to diminish to nothing. I've allowed more things to happen than I want to admit. I don't know who this girl is right now because this hasn't been me. I haven't been me in so long. I've allowed myself to use the word "sorry" in every conversation whether I did something wrong or not.
I've allowed myself to ignore red flags and bad in people because I loved them. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed of the current me because I know I didn't do this to myself. I didn't make me hate me. But what I can tell my family, friends, and the world is I am on the road to recovery and loving myself again. I've closed a chapter in my life.
Carmen Kiew, co-host of NBC Sports Bay Area's "Triples Alley," said she was in contact with Blackburn on Tuesday and tweeted that Snuckles suffered a cut nose and possibly a chipped tooth but is recovering and playing again. Kiew also tweeted that Blackburn had shared screenshots with her and wrote, "I've seen how abusive the relationship is from all angles."
Former major-league catcher Derek Norris was suspended in 2017 after an MLB investigation into domestic violence accusations. His former fiancee, Kristen Eck, wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post that he verbally and physically abused her in 2015. He has not appeared in the majors since being suspended.
Dyson, a free agent, is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and may not be available to pitch in 2020. The 31-year-old split the 2019 season between the San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins.