The Los Angeles Angels have suspended pitching coach Mickey Callaway following a report from The Athletic in which five women accused Callaway of lewd behavior.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey wrote: “Yesterday at the last minute we were informed of the allegations reported in The Athletic. This morning we have suspended Mickey Callaway and will work closely with MLB to bring conduct a full investigation “.
Callaway has initially denied an illegal act, a source told ESPN, which prevents the Angels from firing him without the just cause that can be obtained from an investigation. MLB and the Angels hope to complete this investigation relatively soon, perhaps before spring training begins, the source said.
The five women, who spoke to The Athletic anonymously and worked in sports media, accused Callaway of inappropriate behavior that included sending shirtless photos, requesting nude photos and, in one case, putting his crotch in the face of a journalist while trying an interview. The behavior spanned five years and his employment in three organizations, including his stint as a pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians and manager of the New York Mets.
On Monday, in an email response to The Athletic, Callaway wrote, “Instead of rushing to respond to these general allegations of which I have just become acquainted, I look forward to the possibility of providing more specific answers. Any relationship in which I have been in a relationship has been consensual and my conduct was in no way intended to be disrespectful to any woman involved. I am married and my wife has been informed of these general allegations. “
Athletic’s story came two weeks after ESPN reported a series of explicit, unsolicited text messages sent by former Mets CEO Jared Porter to a female journalist in 2016, a of which included the image of an erect penis. Porter was quickly fired, but he owned the transgression.