The Los Angeles Angels suspended pitching technician Mickey Callaway after a report by The Athletic in which five women accused Callaway of obscene behavior.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey wrote: “Last night, we were informed of the allegations reported at The Athletic. This morning we suspended Mickey Callaway and will work closely with the MLB to conduct a thorough investigation. “
Callaway initially denied any wrongdoing, a source told ESPN, which prevents Angels from firing him without the just cause that could be obtained in an investigation. MLB and the Angels hope to end this investigation relatively soon, perhaps before spring training begins, the source said.
The five women, all speaking to The Athletic anonymously and working in the sports media, accused Callaway of inappropriate behavior that included sending shirtless photos, requesting nude photos and, in one case, pushing his groin in the face of a reporter while she tried to interview. The behavior lasted five years and his employment in three organizations, including his stint as pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and manager of the New York Mets.
In an e-mail response to The Athletic on Monday, Callaway wrote: “Rather than rushing to respond to these general allegations of which I just became aware, I look forward to an opportunity to provide more specific answers. Any relationship in which I get involved it was consensual, and my conduct was not intended to be disrespectful to the women involved.
Atlético’s story came two weeks after ESPN reported a series of explicit and unsolicited text messages sent by now former Mets general manager Jared Porter to a reporter in 2016, one of which included the image of a penis upright. Porter was immediately fired, but confessed to the transgression.