New York Mets prospect Khalil Lee missed a court appearance in Syracuse, New York, Thursday.
Lee faced criminal charges stemming from a domestic incident in 2022, but did not attend court because he is in Florida for spring training.
City Court Judge Ann Magnarelli shared a clear message for the outfielder, through his attorney, Brian Tedd.
“I don’t care that he is a Syracuse Mets player,” Magnarelli said (via Syracuse.com).
Magnarelli threatened to issue a bench warrant, authorizing Lee’s arrest, if he does not make a rescheduled court appearance in mid-April.
Lee had been arraigned Feb. 2 on an arrest warrant stemming from an incident in May 2022. The warrant accused him of criminal obstruction of breath. Lee’s ex-girlfriend, Keriwyn Hill, alleged he kicked, choked, and pulled her hair during an argument in Syracuse.
Hill filed a lawsuit against Lee on Feb. 1, detailing her account of the incident.
Five days later, the Mets designated Lee for assignment to their Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.
The 24-year-old Lee, originally a third-round draft pick in 2016 by the Kansas City Royals, has limited MLB experience, appearing in 13 games between 2021 and 2022. He’s better known as one of the “other” players in the three-team blockbuster trade that sent him to the Mets and moved Andrew Benintendi from the Boston Red Sox to the Royals.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, help is always available. Please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-7233
