The baseball world was given pause Tuesday morning when it became public knowledge that free agent reliever Sam Dyson's ex-girlfriend alleged domestic abuse in the captions of the Instagram account for the cat the couple kept as a house pet.
Per sources, MLB has begun an investigation into Dyson's behavior, and will be speaking with Alexis Blackburn, the ex-girlfriend in question who, it turns out, made similar statements on her own Instagram account.
The post from her personal account, with full caption, is included below.
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?I honestly don’t know where to start, but I need to start somewhere. I want to thank my family and friends who gave me unconditional love and support this year. From the bottom of my heart I appreciate each and every person I reached out to because I was able to speak freely without judgment or hostility. I was able to openly express myself and my feelings. I felt safe, appreciated, and loved, whether we were great friends or just met. I was able to be “me” or the masked version I gave you. I am broken though. I’ve allowed my physical health, my emotional health, and my mental health to diminish to nothing. I’ve allowed more things to happen than I want to admit. I don’t know who this girl is right now because this hasn’t been me. I haven’t been me in so long. I’ve allowed myself to use the word “sorry” in every conversation whether I did something wrong or not. I’ve allowed myself to ignore red flags and bad in people because I loved them. I’m not ashamed or embarrassed of the current me because I know I didn’t do this to myself. I didn’t make me hate me. But what I can tell my family, friends, and the world is I am on the road to recovery and loving myself again. I’ve closed a chapter in my life. This has been the hardest decision I have ever made, but I have to put myself before anyone else. I’m proud of myself. It takes strength and courage to speak and stand up for what’s right. Strong people seek help. Strong people encourage others to seek help. They don’t tell you to get over it, figure it out, and you sound pathetic. Weak people don’t seek help. Weak people make excuses for their behavior. Weak people bully others. Weak people blame others for their own insecurities. So for those who think I am weak andand not good enough, you are correct. The old me was weak because I couldn’t stand up for myself because if I did I was “opinionated.” I lost my voice somewhere along the way, but I was always “good enough.” I was always beautiful. I was always willing to “fix” myself to be perfect. Then I had to tell myself perfection doesn’t exist. #selflove #loveyourself #newme #? • “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
A post shared by Alexis Elizabeth (@leex_14) on Nov 24, 2019 at 5:22am PST
The "Snuckles" post, also public, frames the allegations in a disturbing new light, as well, alleging destructive behavior towards an innocent animal, too.
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Long post ? I want to say a few things about this box. This was the first year I got this box. I am turning 12 soon and this was my first time ever getting this cute box from target. I loved this box. I was able to jump on top of it, look outside, scratch the top, go under and play hide and seek, look through the little window to see what’s going on. I loved this box. As you can see in the second photo, someone I trusted with my safety, protection, and love did the unthinkable while I was inside the box. No one deserves to have their trust broken, but to have your trust broken and not understand why is the hardest thing to grasp at this point. Mom has put up with a lot and some people won’t believe her and that’s okay. This isn’t about believing a person or situation. This is about safety at this point. Mom took me to grandmas for good because unlike my previous “safe space,” GRANDMAS is a safe space. I don’t have to worry about getting hurt because of anger or control. I don’t have to be scared of yelling and things being hurled at mom and me. I don’t have to be scared anymore. This was a preventable incident. This did not need to happen, but it did. The moment I, Snuckles, got involved was the moment mom said goodbye. Love your fur babies enough to do the right thing. At the end of the day we don’t make people do anything. We can’t control their actions and behaviors. What we can control is how we deal with the situation. Mom won’t allow there to be a second incident because my mom truly loves me enough to say goodbye to toxic behavior and people. No one deserves to be intimidated, scared, worthless, and hopeless. Please remember that. Everyone deserves real happiness ? • • #snuckles #standupforyourself #safespace #catslove #thistooshallpass #thetruthwillsetyoufree #animalactivist #bethechange
A post shared by Snuckles (@snuckles_) on Nov 26, 2019 at 5:06am PST
Per The Athletic , MLB became aware of the situation earlier this week.
Dyson, 31, was dealt to the Minnesota Twins last summer, and toiled for a bit before injuring himself and undergoing capsule surgery on his shoulder. This is the first opportunity Major League Baseball has had to deal with a potential domestic violence suspension that would fall during a stint on the IL, and could set a benchmark for such punishment.
In recent years, catcher Derek Norris and Cubs shortstop Addison Russell have been suspended under the program's statutes.
