Domingo German finally addresses Yankees teammates

TAMPA — Domingo German, returning to the Yankees after a lengthy suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic-violence protocols, spoke to his teammates in a pair of meetings Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone said, in an attempt to mend fences.

The right-hander spoke to his fellow Yankees pitchers as well as their catchers at the team’s player-development complex in the morning, then to the infielders and outfielders in the afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

“It was a good step,” Boone said. “I think in looking at it, it was something important to happen, and I think gave everyone the chance to kind of get in a room and really start that conversation if there’s any conversations to be had individually, which I think have happened. But I think sets the table for continuing to have those conversations while also as a team really coming around and trying to support Domingo and helping him moving forward.”

German, 28, drew an 81-game suspension for his actions on the night of Sept. 16, 2019, which cast his teammates and fellow Yankees employees as witnesses, attempted peacemakers and whistleblowers. That German’s actions toward his girlfriend happened in front of and around the Yankees heightened the tension of the situation, as veteran reliever Zack Britton made clear last week in both public comments and a tweet that were critical of German. The suspension began in 2019 and carried through all of last year’s COVID-reduced campaign.

Because of the pandemic restrictions still in place, with the roster separated, German had to speak twice. Each meeting lasted about 30 minutes, said Boone, who called the sessions “impactful.”

The Yankees’ manager added: “Now I think the proof is going to be in what’s ahead and how he is as a teammate and how he is life in general, and hopefully we can all be there to support and help him be the best version of himself.”