Domingo Germán Enters Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

Domingo Germán has had a rollercoaster season in 2023, from suspensions for doctoring baseballs to pitching the 24th perfect game in Oakland in June following the death of his uncle a few days prior. Unfortunately for the right-handed starter, this most recent development might unfortunately end the ride for good in the Bronx.

The Yankees released a statement about an hour before first pitch last Wednesday via Twitter – now known as “X” – that Germán voluntarily agreed to seek treatment for alcohol abuse and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season because of the treatment.

“Domingo Germán has agreed today to voluntarily submit to inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse,” read the statement on the Yankees Official Twitter Page. “He will be placed on the Restricted List for the time that he is away from the club. It is critical that Domingo completely focuses on addressing his health and well-being. We will respect his privacy as he begins this process.”

This news comes as the result of what General Manager Brian Cashman described to the media as an alcohol-related incident that occurred last Tuesday.

“I’m worried right now for the person and the immediate family,” Brian Cashman told Brian Hoch of MLB.com. He also added that “Alcohol abuse is something Domingo Germán has had to deal with in the past.”

Germán has been one of the better starting pitchers on a Yankees team that has seen a revolving door this season due to injuries to other key pieces and inconsistent outings from everyone outside of Gerrit Cole. He has posted a 4.56 ERA across 108 ⅔ innings and struck out 114 batters in his 2023 campaign.

The 30-year-old becomes the second Yankee starting pitcher to enter treatment for alcohol abuse in the last decade as CC Sabathia entered a similar program in 2015 prior to the team’s Wild Card Playoff game against the Houston Astros.

Domingo Germán KA SPORTS PHOTOS /FLICKR

The Yankees will still be able to retain Germán for the 2024 season as he will enter his final year of arbitration with the team before he hits the open market in 2025, but the team may release him due to incidents like this in the past.

Nestor Cortés Jr. – who has just completed his rehab assignment – will most likely take Germán’s spot in the rotation for the remainder of the season.