The Los Angeles Angels announced Tuesday the suspension of pitching coach Mickey Callaway. The decision follows Monday’s report by The Athletic revealing accusations of sexual harassment by a group of female reporters. Angels manager Joe Maddon and first-year general manager Perry Minasian have not yet named a replacement pitching coach as Spring Training opens in just under two weeks.
Recent Announcement
The Los Angeles Angels’ official announcement Tuesday afternoon…
“Late yesterday we were made aware of the allegations reported in The Athletic. This morning we suspended Mickey Callaway, and will work closely with MLB to conduct a full investigation.”
The 45-year-old Callaway was preparing to embark on his second season as the Angels pitching coach under Maddon prior to the revelation of five female reporters reporting inappropriate texts and “lewd behavior” by Callaway. The allegations span across Callaway’s tenure as New York Mets manager 2018 to 2019 and Cleveland Indians pitching coach 2013 to 2017. All three MLB clubs released statements Monday afternoon including Callaway’s current employer. Major League Baseball announced Tuesday they would be investigating the allegations of Callaway sending inappropriate messages and photos to female reporters.
The Angels’ official statement released Monday evening read…
“The behavior being reported violates the Angels Organization’s values and policies. We take these allegations very seriously, and will conduct a full investigation with MLB.”
Yet Another Incident
These reports are the latest of several disheartening off-the-field incidents surrounding employees of the Angels. They follow the dismissal of former visitor clubhouse manager Bubba Harkins providing illegal substances to pitchers and the wrongful death allegations alleged against employee Eric Kay following the July 2019 overdose death of Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Last week, an Orange County Superior Court judge dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by Harkins in August. The Angels fired Harkins last March upon learning about the alleged development and distribution of an MLB-banned substance featuring rosin and pine tar. Representatives for Harkins plan to appeal the dismissal.
In October, former Los Angeles communications director, Eric Kay, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges relating to the fatal drug overdose of Tyler Skaggs while Kay was an employee of the team. Kay was charged with the distribution of a controlled substance leading to the death of the 27-year-old Skaggs. The Angels organization relieved Kay of his employment upon learning of his involvement. Investigators cleared the franchise of any wrongdoing in the pitcher’s death.
What’s Next
Callaway was a pitcher briefly for the 2002 World Series champion Los Angeles Angels. In addition, he had stints with the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers during his five-year MLB playing career. His coaching career included leading the 2016 Cleveland Indians pitching staff to the World Series. The success propelled Callaway to his first managerial position with the New York Mets in 2018. Callaway’s Mets would post a 163-161 record in his two seasons in Gotham with the club finishing in fourth and third place, respectively, in the National League East.
Joe Maddon’s coaching staff includes former Cal State Fullerton and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Wise currently in the role of bullpen coach. Maddon will look to lean on Wise in addition to minor league pitching coaches Jairo Cuevas, Michael Wuertz, and others as the organization and MLB continue their investigation.
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