Derek Norris suspended rest of season after violating domestic violence policy

Derek Norris, the former All-Star catcher who was released by the Tampa Bay Rays in June, has been suspended by Major League Baseball for the remainder of the 2017 season for violating the league and Players Association's Joint Domestic Violence Policy.

Norris has been placed on the league's restricted list, and will be ineligible to sign with a major-league organization through the end of this year's playoffs.

"After reviewing the evidence, I determined that Mr. Norris's conduct warranted discipline under the Joint Domestic Violence Policy," commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement on Friday. "While Mr. Norris denies the allegation against him, he and I have agreed that he will spend the remainder of the 2017 season away from the game and that he will forfeit $100,000 of his remaining termination pay from the Tampa Bay Rays, which will be donated by the Rays to one or more charitable organizations focused on preventing and treating survivors of domestic violence."

In June, Norris' former fiancee, Kristen Eck, accused Norris of allegedly grabbing her by the hair and putting her in a chokehold during an alleged encounter in October 2015. Eck detailed the evening in question and her allegations against Norris in a post on her personal blog, as well as an Instagram post in which Norris' name was not explicitly mentioned.

Norris has continually denied all the allegations against him. In a statement made on June 7, shortly after the investigation first came to light, he said, "the comments made by my ex-fiancee could not be further from the truth. I have NEVER been physically or emotionally abusive towards her, or anyone else in my life."

Norris had joined the Rays near the end of spring training after being released by the Washington Nationals. After appearing in just 53 games this season, the Rays designated him for assignment a few weeks after the allegations against him first came to light, before outright releasing him a short time later.

The 28-year-old has not played baseball at any level since his release.