Domingo Germán Admits to Still Drinking Alcohol When Discussing Last Year’s Clubhouse Incident

When the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Domingo Germán earlier this month, it came with plenty of controversy.

Germán, who had spent his entire professional career with the New York Yankees prior to joining the Pirates, has had a couple of troubling off the field incidents.

Germán was suspended 81 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy after an incident with his girlfriend in 2019.

Shortly before his 31st birthday last season, Germán checked into a rehabilitation center for alcohol abuse. This came after he grew belligerent in the Yankees’ clubhouse while allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

The controversy surrounding Germán’s deal with the Pirates has now grown even larger.

In a recent story published by Randy Miller of NJ.com, Germán said that he still drinks alcohol and denies having a drinking problem, despite the incident in the Yankees’ clubhouse and the ensuing rehab.

The day before the events in the clubhouse unfolded last season, Germán was scratched from a scheduled start with a minor injury. The decision left him feeling “disrespected.” Germán also denied that he was drunk at the time of his clubhouse tirade.

The Pirates said they did thorough due diligence on their recent signing before his deal became official. This included speaking with Germán, his now-wife (girlfriend from the domestic violence incident) and others during the vetting process. Through speaking with numerous people, the Pirates reached the point to where they felt comfortable bringing him aboard.

Germán’s deal with the Pirates is a minor-league pact and comes with a club option for the 2025 season.

In his major-league career, the right-hander has gone 31-28 with a 4.41 ERA in 112 appearances/89 starts. He threw the 24th perfect game in history this past season with the Yankees in a game against the Oakland A’s.