Major League Baseball is carrying out an investigation into allegations of abuse against Derek Norris a catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, said Michael Teevan the league’s vice president of communications.
Norris’ ex-fiancée Kristen Eck made claims recently in an Instagram post that she had been emotionally and physically abused by a man that she had thought she would one day marry.
Eck did not name Norris in her post, but she is known to have been the fiancée of Norris through interviews and stories.
The Tampa Bay catcher denied Eck’s claims through a statement that was released to a number of media outlets.
Eck said that she left Norris last year and did not have any means of transportation with only $300 in her possession. She currently is living in San Diego after just completely here college degree.
Eck wrote in her post that she had some beautiful times with a man that had a great sense of humor as well as an authentic soul that she had expected to spend her entire life with.
However, she said she was emotionally and physically abused by the man. He gave her a lifestyle that most people can only dream about, but it that lifestyle came with a price.
Norris’ statement said that abuse of any kind was absolutely unacceptable. He added that the allegations related to this issue were a serious matter and should not under any circumstance be taken lightly.
But, that being said, the comments that were made by my former fiancée, he says, could not be any further from the truth. Continuing he said he never has been emotionally or physically abusive towards Eck or to anyone else in his entire life.
He added that he would go the extra mile to assist the league in its investigation into the matter.
The Rays, in the same statement, said the team fully supports the Domestic Violence policy of the MLB and takes the allegations seriously.
Norris, who is 28, has played in the majors with the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics and his current team Tampa Bay across six seasons.
After a poor season at the plate in 2016, Norris was traded by San Diego to Washington, but released by the Nationals March 15. On March 26, he signed with Tampa Bay.
