Yankees' German suspended 81 games for domestic violence

New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German has been suspended for 81 games for violating MLB's joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy, the league announced Thursday.

The suspension is retroactive to Sept. 19, when German was first placed on administrative leave stemming from the investigation, meaning he will miss 63 games in 2020.

German is ineligible to participate in spring training but will be permitted to play in the 2020 postseason, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Shortly after he was placed on administrative leave, a report from Bob Klapisch of The New York Times indicated that an official from the MLB commissioner's office witnessed German slapping his girlfriend in a public setting.

There is no police report regarding the incident, which was reported directly to the league office, sources told Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

German will serve one of the longest domestic violence suspensions in the league's history, though he'll sit out fewer games than Hector Olivera (82), Odubel Herrera (85), and Jose Torres (100).

The Yankees released a statement regarding the suspension:

We remain steadfast in our support of Major League Baseball's investigative process and the disciplinary action taken regarding Domingo German. Domestic violence - in any form - is a gravely serious matter that affects every segment of our society. Major League Baseball has taken the lead in our industry to make domestic violence awareness and prevention a priority, and we will continue to back those efforts. We are encouraged by Domingo's acceptance of his discipline, and we sincerely hope this indicates a commitment to making a meaningful and positive change in his personal conduct.

As per the basic agreement's joint domestic violence policy, the club will have no further comment on this matter and refer all questions to the office of the commissioner.

As part of the suspension, which German did not appeal, the 27-year-old agreed to make a contribution to Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit based in New York City that works with victims of domestic violence. He'll also undergo further evaluation and treatment.