White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger will not face discipline after being accused of domestic, abuse, the league announced.
MLB said in a statement March 5 that Clevinger will face no discipline, citing an investigation that included interviews with 15 individuals, including the pitcher and the "complainant."
The league's full statement:
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball has completed its investigation into allegations against Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger. The comprehensive investigation included interviews of more than 15 individuals, in addition to Mr. Clevinger and the complainant, as well as a review of available documents, such as thousands of electronic communication records. The Office of the Commissioner has closed this investigation and, barring the receipt of any new information or evidence, the Office of the Commissioner will not be imposing discipline on Mr. Clevinger in connection with these allegations.
As part of his path forward, Mr. Clevinger has voluntarily agreed to submit to evaluations by the joint treatment boards under the collectively bargained policies, and to comply with any of the boards’ recommendations. MLB will continue to make support services available to Mr. Clevinger, his family, and other individuals involved in the investigation.
What were the domestic abuse allegations against Mike Clevinger?
In a piece published by The Athletic in late January, Olivia Finestead, the mother of Clevinger's 10-month-old child, accused the 32-year-old pitcher of physical and emotional abuse. Finestead agreed to be named in The Athletic's piece.
Finestead alleged that Clevinger choked and slapped her in separate incidents that occurred in June 2022, and said that the pitcher threw used chewing tobacco at the child.
Finestead got in contact with MLB's Department of Investigations last summer, and the league looked into the allegations.
On Jan. 24, 2023, Finestead posted lengthy Instagram story posts about Clevinger, going as far as to post images of the injuries she said she suffered at his hands. Clevinger also allegedly threw an iPad at Finestead when she was pregnant, and Finestead said she finally left him when he "strangled" her.
Clevinger's lawyers issued a statement to The Athletic saying their client denied any wrongdoing.
"He has never harmed Ms. Finestead or his daughter," the statement said. "We will not comment on Ms. Finestead’s motive for bringing these false allegations. Her baseless threats and accusations over the last few months have regrettably escalated, culminating most recently in deeply disturbing threats toward Mike and Mike’s family. Her threats and her pattern of abusive behavior are well documented. The simple truth is that Mike has done nothing wrong."
Under MLB's domestic violence policy, the commissioner may impose as lengthy a ban as he sees fit depending on the outcome of the investigation. Fifteen players have been suspended under the policy since it was implemented in 2015. The shortest suspension was 15 games (Jeurys Familia, 2017).
Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer faced sexual assault allegations in 2021 and was subsequently suspended for two seasons (324 games). That ban was later reduced to 194 games by an independent arbitrator, and Bauer was reinstated. He is now a free agent after being released by the Dodgers.
Clevinger signed with the White Sox in December after spending time with the Padres and Guardians.
The White Sox said in a statement to The Athletic that they "were not aware of the allegations or the investigation" when they signed him.
Finestead said in her Instagram story that she filed a police report against Clevinger at time of the reveal of the allegations.
Clevinger also has two children from a prior relationship.