Report: Reyes’ Domestic Abuse Charge To Be Dropped

A domestic abuse charge against Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes is expected to be dropped this week because of a lack of cooperation from Reyes’ wife, prosecutors in Hawaii told the New York Daily News on Wednesday.

Reyes, placed on indefinite paid leave by Major League Baseball in February, was scheduled to go on trial on April 4.

TV station KHNL, an NBC affiliate, reported that the alleged incident took place on Halloween at the Four Seasons Resort Maui. Citing sources, the station reported that Reyes’ wife Katherine told police that Reyes grabbed her throat and shoved her into a glass balcony door.

But Maui County deputy prosecuting attorney Kerry Glen told the Daily News she will dismiss the case without prejudice—meaning she can re-file charges later—because Reyes’ wife won’t testify.

“This office has made verbal and written requests to speak to her, and those requests have been declined,” Glen told the newspaper. “She is, at this point, refusing to cooperate with the prosecution.”

It’s unclear how the end of prosecution—at least at this point—affects Reyes’ playing status. According to the release from the commissioner’s office in February, “any discipline from the commissioner will come ‘upon resolution of Reyes’ criminal proceedings and the completion of the Commissioner’s Office’s investigation into the incident.'”

Even if Reyes is not prosecuted, it does not mean MLB cannot suspend him. A statement from MLB read that Reyes “remains on administrative leave until the commissioner completes his investigation and imposes any discipline.”

For example, prosecutors in Broward County in Florida declined to charge Aroldis Chapman after his alleged domestic violence incident, but MLB suspended the Yankees closer for 30 games.

Unlike Chapman, Reyes has not be able to participate in Rockies’ spring training and Trevor Story has taken the starting shortstop job to begin the season.