BOSTON -- Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers was
arrested Friday and charged with hitting his wife in the face on a
street not far from Fenway Park.
Myers, who was scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Red Sox,
pleaded not guilty to assault charges at his arraignment Friday in
Boston Municipal Court, said David Procopio, a spokesman for the
Suffolk County District Attorney's office. Myers' next court date
is Aug. 4.
Myers was arguing with his wife shortly after midnight at the
corner of Boylston and Dalton streets, Procopio said. The woman and
two witnesses told police the 25-year-old pitcher hit her. One
witness told investigators Myers also pulled her hair.
"The evidence at this point leads us to believe the victim was
struck in the left side of her face," Procopio said. He added that
investigators are trying to determine if Myers hit her with a fist
or open hand and whether he hit her more than once.
Police responded to a 911 call and found Myers' wife crying with
a swollen face, Procopio said. Officers found Myers nearby and
arrested him. Myers was booked by Boston police and his wife posted
his $200 bail. Procopio did not know how long Myers spent in jail.
Procopio said he would not identify Myers' wife because she is a
domestic violence victim. A player biography on Major League
Baseball's Web site says Myers married Kim Wickman in September
2002 and the couple has a 3-year-old daughter.
"Out of respect for the privacy of both Kim and Brett Myers, the Phillies will not comment on this incident until the matter is resolved by the Court," the team said in a statement.
The team added that Myers will pitch, as scheduled, Saturday afternoon against Boston.
As part of his bail conditions, Myers must not initiate contact
with his wife and can see her only if she wants to see him. The
judge also ruled that if Myers is arrested again while out on bail
he can be jailed for up to two months.
Myers, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, made his debut with the Phillies
in July 2002. This season, he is 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.