After a DWI arrest last Friday and the fear of a possible Major League Baseball suspension, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress has checked into rehab, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Rangers were going to reinstate Jeffress from the restricted list, but the league blocked the move to investigate his DWI. Yahoo reports that his blood-alcohol content was .115 when he was pulled over. The 28-year-old had been suspended while in the minors for marijuana use, and some was in his car when he was pulled over, yet he was not charged with possession.
Jeffress issued the following statement from the MLB Players Association, via SportsDay:
“First, I would like to offer a sincere apology to the Texas Rangers, my teammates, my family, and to the fans for the incident that took place last Friday morning. Make no mistake, drinking and driving is wrong. I made a mistake that not only jeopardized my wellbeing, but the wellbeing of others, and I thank God that nobody was hurt because of my mistake.
“I have faced and overcome much adversity in my life, some of it self-inflicted, and I try very hard, every day, to be a positive influence in the lives of my family, friends, fans and, most importantly, my daughter, Jurnee. Moving forward, I promise to do everything I can to live my life the right way, as I look to put this incident behind me. I promise to do whatever it takes to get back on the field playing the game I love. And I will begin this process by being away from the team while I get the help I need to overcome these difficult personal issues.
“I am also making a commitment to speak out against impaired driving for the rest of my life, as I hope others will learn from my mistake. I also would like to thank the police department for their professionalism in handling the situation as well as they did. Lastly, I ask that others respect my privacy during my absence, just as I ask for their forgiveness. Thank you and God bless you all.”
Yahoo’s Jeff Passan details the length of the stay in the clinic, as well as his future with the Rangers:
The 28-year-old Jeffress is expected to spend about a month in a Houston-area clinic, according to sources. While his status for the rest of the season remains up in the air, rejoining the Rangers for the postseason remains a possibility, sources said.
The Rangers currently own the best record in the American League at 80-54, and you have to imagine with World Series implications, the team would be willing to bring back Jeffress. But he certainly has issues he must address before putting anything else on his plate.
