Tampa Bay Rays’ Derek Norris Facing Abuse Allegations
By Nick Fustor
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Derek Norris is facing abuse allegations by his ex-fiancee that claim he “physically and mentally” abused her during her relationship, according to several reports.
The Tampa Bay Rays catcher is under investigation by Major League Baseball after his ex-fiancee alleged that the 28-year-old “physically and mentally” abused her while the two were in a relationship. The allegations can be found in an Instagram post written by Norris’ ex-fiancee, Kristen Eck.
In the post, Eck wrote that Norris abused her both physically and mentally – and when the two ended the relationship, she was left with no money and no place to live.
"“When I left I had $300 to my name, I had no access to money, I had no access to cars and was only given the courtesy to remove my items from our home,” Eck wrote. “When I left, he and his family made sure I had nothing. But, that is far from true. I had my life, I had my family, I had my friends and I had the fight and heart that has been in me since I was a little girl."
In a blog post, Eck described in detail a night when she says she was abused after confronting Norris about texts and phone calls on his phone with another woman. Eck wrote that Norris placed her in a choke hold, grabbed her arms and pulled her hair and then cornered her in a bedroom.
"“I took the phone and heard a female’s voice stating, ‘Are you going to talk to me?’ I knew who it was because I had seen texts and caught her calling Derek before… I approached our kitchen island with the phone in my hand and Derek approached me from behind and put me in a choke hold. At this time, I thought he wanted the phone. I threw the phone onto the kitchen island and tried to get away. Derek then grabbed by the back of my hair to pull me back to him. He eventually let go and as I turned around he grabbed me by my upper arms so i couldn’t leave as he tried to drunkenly explain that he wasn’t talking to another female,” Eck wrote."
Eck wrote that the two reconciled shortly after, but their relationship wasn’t the same following the incident.
Norris denied the allegations in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times, writing they “could not be further from the truth.”
“First, I want to be absolutely clear that abuse of any form, is completely unacceptable,” Norris’ statement to the Times said. “Allegations regarding this issue are a very serious matter and should not be taken lightly under any circumstances. That being said, in this circumstance, the comments made by my ex-fiancee could not be further from the truth. I have NEVER been physically or emotionally abusive towards her, or anyone else in my life.”
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Norris has played for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and is currently with the Rays. He was released by the Washington Nationals early in spring training after they brought in Matt Wieters, and later signed by the Rays in March.
The Rays issued a statement saying that the organization will “fully cooperate” with MLB’s investigation. It’s unclear at this time if Norris has received any form of discipline or suspension by the league.