Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports that Phillies prospect infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been suspended by MLB after a domestic violence arrest. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. addressed the situation earlier today:
“He was arrested,” Amaro said. “Major League Baseball stepped in and suspended him indefinitely. We support the action and policies of the Commissioner’s office. As an organization we’re getting the young man some help, but we take this very seriously as does the Commissioner’s office.”
According to Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Valentin was arrested last Sunday in Pinellas County, Florida and charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. He was released on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charge on Wednesday.
Valentin, the son of former major league infielder Jose Valentin, was a supplemental first-round pick of the Dodgers in 2012 and came over to the Phillies last August in the Roberto Hernandez deal. The 20-year-old was set to begin the season with High-A Clearwater.
